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Australia injuries worsen
18/10/2003 09:49 - (SA)
Sydney, Australia - Australia's injury crisis worsened on Saturday when fast bowler Brett Lee was ruled out of the forthcoming one-day tour of India starting next week.
Lee will miss the tri-series involving India and New Zealand. He will be sidelined along with fast bowlers Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie and legspinner Stuart MacGill, all injured.
Legspinner Shane Warne will also miss the tour as he serves a 12-month suspension for taking a banned diuretic.
Batsman Darren Lehmann was also ruled out with a torn Achilles tendon, putting his place in the Australian middle order in grave danger while fast bowler Ashley Noffke is nursing a stress fracture in his lower back.
Lee broke down on Saturday during second day's play in the second test against Zimbabwe at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Diagnostic scans in a nearby hospital confirmed a tear. He is expected to be out for at least four weeks in the lead-up to the four-test series against India starting at the Gabba in Brisbane on December 4.
"I'm bitterly disappointed," said Lee. "I pretty much knew from my first ball that something was wrong.
"I've really worked hard on my fitness, so to miss this tour now is a major blow."
Lee's replacement in the 14-man tour party led by Ricky Ponting will be announced soon.
A tough challenge awaits Ponting's world champions in the subcontinent as India looks to avenge its defeat in the World Cup final at the Wanderers in March of this year.
Lee's injury raised new fears among the Australians after test skipper Steve Waugh blamed the strenuous five-day training camp before the first test in Perth as the reason for Lehmann's injury.
The injuries come at a time when the game's lawmakers are trying to bridge the increasing gulf between Australia and the rest of the world.
Both the Australian test and one-day teams remain at the top of the International Cricket Council ranking.
- AP
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