Brett Lee ruled out of ODI series, returns home

By Rahul Bajaj
for Cricketain.com

Published: October 31, 2009

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New Delhi: Australia’s injury worries were compounded on Friday with speedster Brett Lee being ruled out of the remainder of the ODI series in India because of an elbow injury. Lee would be flying back home on Saturday.

Lee was unable to complete his 10-over spell during the first ODI against India in Baroda and was not available for selection in the second match of the series in Nagpur. On Friday, he had a light practice at the Ferozeshah Kotla and captain Ricky Ponting said he was 85 percent fit.

“Brett’s elbow injury has not responded as well to treatment as we would have liked and therefore a decision has been made to send him home to consult with an elbow specialist,” team physiotherapist Kevin Sims said. “With an accurate diagnosis we can determine how best to manage the injury and give Brett the best chance of being available for selection at the beginning of the Australian summer.”

“Cricket Australia’s National Selection Panel is working through the process of naming a replacement player and this will be advised in due course,” the statement read.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting and Coach Tim Nielsen had voiced their unhappiness about the scheduling of Champions League so close to the ODI series. Nielsen called Lee’s injury a “stress-related” one, and Ponting rued the absence of six of his players while preparing for the seven-ODI series. Lee, however, said that his injury was not because of his participation in New South Wales’ campaign in the Champions League.

Australia will also be without allrounder James Hopes, who has a hamstring strain, in the third ODI in Delhi. “Both the guys [Lee and Hopes] are not playing tomorrow. Lee had a light training today and he looks 85% fine but there is still some pain in his elbow,” Ponting said. “Hopes got through his bowling today but we have our fingers crossed. We hope he will be okay for Mohali after sitting out tomorrow.”

Australia arrived in India without Michael Clarke, Callum Ferguson and Brad Haddin. Their second choice gloves-man Tim Paine also fractured his finger in the last match in Nagpur to return home, while his replacement Graham Manou is expected to arrive on Friday.

The series is currently level 1-1 with the third match scheduled here at the Ferozeshah Kotla on Saturday.

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