Lee injury sets back Australia by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:	B Lee
Event:	Australia in British Isles 2009

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DateLine: 6th July 2009

 

Australia have suffered a body blow ahead of the start of the first Ashes Test as seamer Brett Lee has broken down with a rib injury.

 

Lee, reported soreness in the left side after the tour game with England Lions.

 

The injury forced the right-arm pacer to miss training on Monday because he had to travel to hospital for scans.

 

The injury now leaves a possibility of Lee missing the first Test at Cardiff, starting on Wednesday.

 

The results of that scan are not expected until late on Monday night or Tuesday morning, with an Australian team spokesman confirming: "He has a sore left rib, but we won't know the extent of it until the scans are back.

 

"We're in a holding pattern until then."

 

Lee looked good in the tourists last warm-up game against England Lions and his absence from the side could play a huge role in deciding the fate of the first Test.

 

The 32-year-old took seven wickets for 114 in the drawn tour game at New Road, putting him in pole position to lead the Aussie attack against England alongside the likes of Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle.

 

If at all he is not available, Australia will have to choose between out of form spinner Nathan Hauritz or employing a seam-only attack with Ben Hilfenhaus.