Cricket: Strain puts pace whiz Lee in doubt

SYDNEY - Australian pace bowler Brett Lee is in serious doubt for the three-test series against New Zealand starting next month.

New South Wales and Australian cricket officials are being cautious over the world's fastest bowler, who has a side strain.

He was ruled out of the New South Wales team for the first round of Pura Cup first class matches, which began yesterday.

He now has only one more game, against South Australia starting next week, to prove his fitness before the team are named to face the Black Caps in Brisbane on November 8. That is also Lee's 25th birthday.

While Lee was optimistic that one game would be enough to convince national selectors he was ready to play, a more conservative approach is likely to be taken, aimed at unleashing him on South Africa in the test series starting in December.

National chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said injured players would not be rushed back into the Australian side.

"The most important thing for these young bowlers and for Australian cricket is that they are fully fit," Hohns told The Australian newspaper.

"Whether that takes one, two or three [Pura Cup] games - it doesn't matter.

"We feel that there are adequate replacements available, there is plenty of back-up."

The most likely candidates were Damien Fleming, who was unlucky not to play a test on the recent Ashes tour, or Queenslander Andy Bichel.

Australian team physiotherapist Errol Alcott was also cautious about Lee's prospects of a rapid return to the national side.

"The selectors may want to see him get a few games under his belt," Alcott said.

"If Brett plays and plays well [against South Australia next week] he will feel in contention [for the first test], but it is more important that he gets through the game and feels good afterwards."

Australian great Dennis Lillee was helping Lee refine his action this week to reduce the strain he puts on his side.

Lee has been frustrated by injuries in an attempt to build his fitness after the most spectacular debut by an Australian fast bowler since Lillee.

He claimed 42 wickets in his first seven tests before stress reaction in his back cost him the final three tests against the West Indies last summer.

He returned for the one-day series only to aggravate an old elbow injury, which forced him out of the Indian tour early this year.

Veteran batsman Mark Waugh's preparations for the test series began badly when he split the webbing in his right hand yesterday while fielding in slips.

Waugh, aged 36, left the field immediately after the blow on the first day of the four-day interstate match between New South Wales and Tasmania.

He was taken to a Sydney hospital where he had two stitches inserted between the little and ring fingers on his right hand.

He returned to Sydney Cricket Ground to watch the rest of the day's play, and will bat in New South Wales first innings.

Waugh's twin brother, Australian captain Steve, who averaged 107 in tests against England this summer, will not play the NSW match because of a blood clot in his left leg.

The twins are expected to be ready for the first test against New Zealand.

Meanwhile, heavy rain in Brisbane yesterday washed out New Zealand's hopes for a solid bowling workout against the Queensland Academy. The game has been reduced to three days.

New Zealand made 297 for eight on the opening day. Captain Stephen Fleming was unbeaten on 133.

"It's disappointing to lose a day, but that comes with the territory I'm afraid," said New Zealand coach Denis Aberhart. The players did some gym work yesterday morning and had the afternoon off.

- AGENCIES