KEY POINTS:
Pivotal Australian paceman Brett Lee made the alarming confession he felt only a "50-50" chance of being fit in time for the cricket World Cup after scans revealed the full extent of damage to his mangled left ankle today.
Having wrenched the ankle during training on Thursday, Lee flew home from the tour of New Zealand today.
And in another worrying sign for Australia, batsman and star fielder Michael Clarke will also return from New Zealand tomorrow after being ruled out of the Chappell-Hadlee series with a hip problem.
Analysis of Lee's MRI scans today showed he had suffered torn ligaments, leaving him unsure of whether he will fly to the Caribbean for the tournament which starts next month.
"At the moment probably all I can say is that I'm 50-50 for the World Cup so fingers crossed," Lee said after he arrived in Sydney.
"There are torn ligaments in my left ankle and yesterday I was in a lot of pain -- when I went down I heard a crack in my ankle and things weren't looking good.
"After consulting with the doctor today I am more positive but it's too hard to say what the outcome will be."
Though he does not require surgery, Lee has been consigned to crutches and an ankle brace for at least the next week, after which his chances of fitness for the cup will be more fully assessed.
Whatever that assessment will be, Lee has now joined Andrew Symonds as officially doubtful for the tournament, meaning the squad of 15 is effectively reduced to 13 until either the winged duo make rapid recoveries or substitutes are nominated.
Even if they do return to somewhere near full fitness, neither will reach the cup in their best condition, and it has long been known that only a foolhardy management would assign key roles to half-fit players at a major tournament.
Despite the knowledge that his injury was serious, Lee said he would draw on a history of successful recuperations from injuries as encouragement to press on.
"I'll be doing everything I can to make sure I have a chance of playing," he said.
"As a fast bowler I have had stress fractures in my back and ankle surgery three times and have always overcome these injuries.
"There will be nothing different here and I know I will be able to bounce back."
Lee has been replaced in New Zealand by South Australian quick Shaun Tait, who now faces the difficult task of becoming a key member of an attack he has not been fully part of since the 2005 Ashes tour.
Also concerning for Australia, though less so than Lee, are the continuing hip problems for Clarke.
Clarke failed a fitness test prior to today's match, and has been deemed unready to take any part in the rest of the brief tour.
Worryingly for such a predatory fielder, Clarke's pain is most acute when turning, twisting or throwing, thus impeding his chances of creating the run outs so vital in limited overs games.
A replacement for Clarke is yet to be nominated.
- AAP
