Cricket: Lee a certain starter for England match

CHESTER-LE-STREET, England - Australian speedster Brett Lee appears a certain starter for the tri-series cricket day-nighter against England at the Riverside Ground after continuing his good build-up.

Lee has not played since he experienced shoulder pain earlier this Ashes tour and should return to strengthen the attack, having bowled at full pace yesterday at training and then bowling at similar levels today.

His pace will be an asset to Australia, which has lost its past four matches and was unable to contain Kevin Pietersen's power hitting on Sunday at Bristol when he took England to a three-wicket win.

Allrounder Andrew Symonds is also expected to come into the side after being suspended for two matches for a late-night drinking binge.

Batsman Michael Clarke said the Australians had shut out some of the off-field distractions during this Ashes tour, which have included Symonds' indiscretion, a sex scandal involving Shane Warne, the theft of gear belonging to Clarke and Michael Kasprowicz and now tabloid reports the team is spooked about staying at a 600-year-old castle, fearing it is haunted.

"I don't think the guys are too bothered about this ghost stuff and me getting my stuff stolen and the things we're reading in the paper ... all we're concerned about is our performances on the field," Clarke said.

He said Australia had remained upbeat despite the losses.

"The reality is that England has been playing cricket, they're having their summer and they've all been playing cricket and we've had some time off," Clarke said.

"We're slowly working into it.

"I think our performances are improving but we haven't got any excuses.

"The reality is we haven't won the last couple of games and it is disappointing, but we are doing everything in our power (to win)."

If Lee and Symonds return, the players likely to miss out will be paceman Kasprowicz and allrounder Shane Watson, who both copped the full brunt of Pietersen's hitting at Bristol.

Australia lost its opening two matches of the tri-series series, but will overtake Bangladesh on the table if it can beat England.

- AAP