Eurosport - Tue, 07 Jul 13:42:00 2009
In his exclusive blog, Aussie bowler Brett Lee describes his frustration at missing the first Ashes Test through injury.
Through the Worcester game against England Lions I started feeling a slight pain in my lower abdomen and around the bottom of the ribcage.
I pretty much put it down to wear and tear as a fast bowler and the tougher ask of playing four-day cricket after limited-overs games.
As I kept bowling the pain gradually increased but at the end of the game it didn't even concern me as an injury - it felt like run-of-the-mill post-match stiffness.
It was only after icing and the bus trip to Cardiff did I realise I was in a bit of trouble.
It's nothing that won't heal with just time, the negative thing is that it's come at a bad time.
My time out is looking to be about two weeks - it could even be three - no one is quite sure yet.
At this stage I'm definitely out of the first Test and iffy for the second at Lord's starting on July 16.
The problem will be looked at day-to-day.
The positive I'm taking out of this is that I bowled two days flat out and my ankle felt 100 per cent alright. There was no pain whatsoever.If it was my ankle that had come up sore I'd be pretty stressed because once my ankle goes I can forget about bowling with pace.
These little niggles come and go - I've been fortunate enough to have just two torn muscles in 16 years of cricket, so I can't be angry at my body - and our physio Alex Kontouris has said he's willing to reassess the injury in a week.
I didn't have anything to prove to myself but I was happy to be able to show everyone else that I am still capable of bowling consistently close to 100mph.
It's hard to say how this will affect the make-up of our sides for the first Tests.
It's still too early to call as there is the weather still to consider.
It obviously brings different bowling combinations into contention with me missing out but no matter what Australia is still a very strong side.
My training with the Duke ball really paid off as the ball was coming out well for me against the England Lions.
It all started to happen for me when the Lions were 0-172 but I had still put a lot of work in with the new ball.
I may not have wickets but I was very happy with how I bowled with new ball - as happy as I was with the old.
I was quoted as saying the other day 'I haven't trained 25 weeks just to sit on the sidelines' and I will stick by that.
This is all very frustrating but I still believe I have a big role to play in this Ashes series.
The hard work is starting again for me and I've got to make sure I'm ready to go when I'm needed.
Comment 16 - 35 of 35
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And that is why Bobito, Ponting was so angry. There have been alot of people that have questioned Ponting's captaincy over the years, the best thing for us is that he only answers this one way, like he in the last ashes series in Australia and before, 13 centuries in 10 tests. Fingers crossed it happens again, although I have my doubts. Good luck Bobito and you pommies, the day of reckoning for both teams and fans have arrived
I certainly hope your interpretation of events is correct Phillip, for that would mean that even Brett Lee, a team player if ever there was one, is disdainfully ignoring his captain's instructions. Team Australia's dissatisfaction with Ponting must be very serious if this kind of thing is happenning. Perhaps a last minute change of captaincy is required?
to me,it doesn't matter if they play lee,siddle,bollinger or anyone else.......they are gonna lose,australlia are!
Bobito, I think you might find that Ricky asked Brett to go and warm up on the boundary, and was frustrated when he saw him not warming up, rather, having a laugh with the crowd, I personally think they are both to blame, Ponting for making him bowl without warming up, and Lee for being silly enough not to warm up. Saying that, the lack of warming up didnt affect his figures. Not a good start for us, but hopefully we are more than a one man team
I can't help but chuckle at this news. During the warm-up match against the Lions, Lee was having a little banter with the crowd. Ponting saw this and threw his toys out, instructing Lee to come on and bowl IMMEDIATELY. No time to loosen up or prepare, just get on with it. Now we discover Lee's torn a muscle. Connected?
If you aim slightly to the left Ricky, you can shoot your other foot as well.
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On paper looks like a big loss but when your playing a team consisting of an overated
springbok.one who likes a drink + a spin bowler with the worst bowling figures in county cricket.....why worry?
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Trouble, I think your comments are that ridiculous and idiotic that it is not even worth responding or in fact take them serious at all. Comment 24(P), you are the type of English fan I like, you support your team, respect the other team, and hope for a good contest. I to hope that the English boys show us what they are made of, and even win the first test. That will then make Australia have to prove why they are number 1 in the world for the remaining tests. The aussies are fighters and will give nothing away until the last ball of the 5th test(no matter if the series is won or not). No matter what our origins or ethnic backgrounds, it is the aussies verses the poms, and that is why it is the ashes, bring it on.
Concerned 11:31
Sounds like you are a descendent of multiple humpings.
The difference now with Australia is that they will not have the twin attack of Mac somebody and worn out.
1271 wickets between them. Not too bad at all. I wonder how they would have fared if they had not been available in that period.
Come on England, "they don't like it up em you know"
Hey, Trouble, Aussies cares about it very much about who wins!! They will want to beat the ''whinging poms'' at any cost and there is no better feeling for all Aussies than beating the poms in their own backyard. Aussies will come out fighting from the 1st ball on day one to show case their skills & tallents of guys like Hughes, johnson, Ponting,in fact the whole team. I hope England will be ready for the first test in Cardiff?? If the English boys can put up a good show on the first day that will set the scene for the rest of the 5 match series. To say who cares its only English v English is a bit like, well, if you cant beat them join them!!!!! So, it is worth remembering it is NOT English v English, it will be against England v Australia. Lets hope the English boys will show the Aussies what they are made of???
I think the boy Mitchell Johnson will be Australia's top man (very hostile bowler and a big, big hitter too); i also think the series will be won 2-1, but not sure who by (England i hope)!
trouble: The reason that England are pretty much hated as a nation of sports people is because of knobs like you. Lets take your argument about England playing England. If you are honest, you will find that there are no Anglo-Saxon reue bloods left. You were HUMPED by the Roman's HUMPED by the Vikings, and HUMPED by the Norman's. Basically, you have been HUMPED out of any true bloodlines.
Also, lets be honest Kevin Peitersen IS South African too.
Why can't we all realise that where we are born makes little difference. It's WHO we are that counts.
#18 - UK population is roughly 3 times that of Australia. Do you have a point at all? Ashes test cricket is top-tier sport played by professionals who have a high level of respect for each other. Pity the same cannot be said for the bigoted, xenophobic morons who snipe at each other about it from the side-lines.
hope the ashes is played in the same spirit of 95, that series converted many people into following the game,
Phillip
What is the rough size of Australia, and how many people live there. Do you not think u have a slight advantage or should have compared to the amount of poeple living in your (sorry our) country. I think we've done very well considering this over the years, and think this ashes you'll see the start of an era for us, will be 2005 all over again, u just wont get lucky with the rain this time otherwise it would of been 3-1.
Phillip, thanks for confirming that all Aussies come from kangaroo farms. Only you didn't need to confirm it, we know that anyway. Yes you are right about the common ethnicity of the Australian team, British Anglo Saxon. Your team is what we made them. In fact your team is British. With so many ethnic groups in Australia, it's only the British Anglo Saxons who play cricket, that's why they have a common background, language etc. Note the language is English!!! When England play Australia, it's the same as England playing England. Your team is English. So who cares who wins
Jeez, all this bile and vitriol already, not even a ball bowled yet!! Some of us might wanna wait till the series actually STARTS before firing off all this abuse!! Lol!
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