Ashes - Lee out of first Test

Eurosport - Tue, 07 Jul 13:13:00 2009

Australia fast bowler Brett Lee will miss the first Ashes Test against England starting on Wednesday after tearing a muscle in his left rib area.

2009 Australia Brett Lee - 0

"I have sustained a small muscle tear which has ruled me out of the first Test," Lee told a news conference at the team's hotel.

"I still see myself playing a major role for Australia through the end part of the series, whether that's the second, third, fourth or fifth Test match depending on how things go."

Team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said a scan had revealed a muscle strain.

"It's not as bad as it could have been. It looks as if he's out of the first Test, he's not out of Lord's but the chances are slim," Kountouris said.

Lee also indicated he did not expect to be fit in time for the second Test at Lord's starting next Thursday.

"At this point at time it's possibly looking like two weeks before I can bowl again," he said.

The 32-year-old Lee, who has returned to the Australia sideafter undergoing a fifth ankle operation, was a certainty for the first Test after ripping through the England Lions middle-order in a warmup match last week.

He bowled with all his old express pace and obtained devastating reverse swing in taking six for 76 in the first innings.

"I will be missing the first Test match which is very disappointing. However, if it was my ankle or something structural I would be much more concerned," he said.

"It's only the only second time I have torn a muscle in my body in 16 years."

Australia media officer Philip Pope said there were no plans to send for a replacement.

Reuters

Comment 28 - 47 of 47

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  1. Well tis the eve of the first test and with this latest­ blow, the injury to the paceman Lee, it is a certainty­ to a man, that there will be a lot more on the­ Arstralian's minds tonight than just the usual hand­ job.

    From nocohere, on Tue 7 Jul 8:55AM

  2. I've got a lot of time for Brett Lee, a gentleman­ and a great talent. I think they will miss him.­ It's also an amazing statistic that in such a long­ career a bowler of his pace has only pulled a muscle­ twice.
    Wonder what the other one was?

    From nocohere, on Tue 7 Jul 8:47AM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    CRACKATS FACKAN RABBASH

    From Donney, on Tue 7 Jul 4:18AM

  4. Pomes, Prisoners Of Mother England, aren't the­ ones living down under anymore its the sorry @#$%­ English lets face it 90% of your fellow country folk­ would rather be living somewhere else but here so you­ guys are the Prisoners of your own country, you­ Conquered everywhere around the globe & look what­ you got left with. lol
    P.S I think you guys will win­ the series but until you can win down-under your just­ as @#$% as we are now.

    From gmmason42, on Tue 7 Jul 12:29AM

  5. AND BEING A CANT IS JUST FOR PEOPLE CALLED DONNEY

    From monkey spanner, on Tue 7 Jul 12:16AM

  6. looking at the two teams it seems to me just a case of­ who is the least worst

    From monkey spanner, on Mon 6 Jul 11:11PM

  7. bring on the aussies

    From stelovescricket1967, on Mon 6 Jul 11:00PM

  8. idont think it cwill a real test with australias best­ bowler by far there is no contest for england with ­ BRETT LEE on the side lines iam english but i wish­ BRETT aspeedy recovery

    From georgewebber63, on Mon 6 Jul 10:16PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    A LEEK YER WEGON WAYNE. BROOM BROOM.

    From Donney, on Mon 6 Jul 10:15PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    CRACKAT AS FAE PONCEES WATH NAE BALLACKS.

    From Donney, on Mon 6 Jul 10:15PM

  11. comment 35, brilliant middle bit, bloody brilliant.

    From Colin H, on Mon 6 Jul 9:04PM

  12. Ah, proper slanging matches, keep the do gooders off­ hear please, don't ruin what could be a good series­ [on here i meant].

    From Colin H, on Mon 6 Jul 9:03PM

  13. PRUE, is that an Aussie tough guy name???, would be­ about right, unless you are female, no difference­ really, ponces.

    From Colin H, on Mon 6 Jul 9:00PM

  14. Lee looks like Stan Laurel in his pic....

    From James, on Mon 6 Jul 8:58PM

  15. Forget this bull$#it.....Has anyone seen Michael­ Jackson's kids? They look completely white. We, the­ public demand a DNA test. They ain't got no black­ in them! They ain't got no "nappy" in­ their hair, it's all straight! They ain't got­ no tan either! I reckon they're George Bush's­ kids! God bless America...Excelsiour!

    From James, on Mon 6 Jul 8:57PM

  16. Brett Lee ? The aussies would have more chance with­ Peters & Lee.

    Who will replace young Tintin ? ­ Captain Haddock perhaps? Maybe not - as the aussies­ seem to have something against grog these days .

    In­ the old days brewery share prices would soar at the­ sight of huge moustaches and beer guts at aeroplane­ windows in April as the tourists landed (and rise even­ further when the mens cricket team arrived to join the­ ladies)

    Still, should be a great series - fancy­ England to edge it if they play out of their skins and­ the Aussies start drinking again

    From richgscottuk, on Mon 6 Jul 8:54PM

  17. Some Aussie turds at last, how is it you shitehawks,­ the last test series didn't count because it was­ unofficial as there is no official test grounds in­ prisons {Australia}, i had to put that bit in brackets­ because you dumb Aussies would not understand. Welcome­ to your Mother country.

    From Colin H, on Mon 6 Jul 8:45PM

  18. Lets get all the excuses from the convicts out of the­ way, now before we beat them with out Brett lee similar­ thing happened in the last ashes series here when­ mcgrath stud on a cricket ball in practice silly boy­ and all the whinging crims could say was you only beat­ us coz mcgath was injured, but hey arent you meant to­ be the best sports men all that lovely sunshine in aus­ loads of money thrown at you by your government for­ sport,you cant be spending much on your womens cricket­ team in for a 5-0 whiteweash by england.

    From Chris M, on Mon 6 Jul 8:30PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    oh gee, im really cut up. the poms have a chance now in­ first test.

    From Alan, on Mon 6 Jul 8:25PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Brett Lee should without doubt be, what the poms­ describe as hell, when he sounds the knell, of those­ pudgie boys, who flail bats like toys without purpose­ or thought -- coming up with naught. For the Aussies­ it'll be a rort! (OK, you get the idea) Shark tank­ for England.

    From Prue, on Mon 6 Jul 8:13PM
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