Injuries lay Brett Lee low

By Malcolm Conn

SYDNEY, OCT. 22. Despite calling on Dennis Lillee to help refine his action Brett Lee could miss the entire three-Test series against New Zealand next month as Australia's cricket hierarchy take a softly, softly approach with the world's fastest bowler.

Lillee did some work with Lee in Sydney last week but the exciting speedster was ruled out of the NSW side with a side strain for match against Tasmania in Sydney.

The affable tearaway now has only one first class match, against South Australia beginning on Friday, before the first Test team is announced early next month.

While the ever upbeat and optimistic paceman is hopeful that this outing at the Sydney Cricket Ground will be enough to convince the national selectors he is ready to go, a more conservative approach is being planned for Lee, who has struggled with a number of injuries over the past year.

The same approach is likely for injured fellow Ashes tourists Nathan Bracken (shoulder) and Ashley Nofke (ankle) as the ever more hectic international schedule makes injuries to fast bowlers a seemingly unavoidable occuptional hazard.

Certainly national chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns gave no indication that injured players would be rushed back into the Australian side. ``The most important thing for these young bowlers and for Australian cricket is that they are fully fit,'' Hohns said yesterday. ``Whether that takes one, two or three (Pura Cup) games it doesn't matter. ``We feel that there are adequate replacements available, there is plenty of back- up.''

The most likely candidate at this early stage is Damien Fleming, who was unlucky not to play a Test on the recent successful Ashes tour, but much can change in a fortnight. Queenslander Andy Bichel, who did not tour England, was called up twice last summer to cover for the injured Jason Gillespie and Lee, and the first Test is at his beloved Gabba.

Australian team physiotherapist Errol Alcott was also cautious about Lee's prospect's of a rapid return to the national side. ``The selectors may want to see him get a few games under his belt,'' Alcott said. ``If Brett plays and plays well (against SA next week) he will feel in contention (for the first Test) but its more important that he gets through the game and feels good afterwards.''

Lee's is understandbly keen to celelbrate his 25th birthday on November 8 bowling for Australia on the opening day of the Test season in Brisbane but is more likely to be in the action for NSW against Victoria on the same day.The New Zealand series is so crammed, with three Tests inside four weeks, that it will be over if he needs three Pura Cup games to prove his match fitness.

Like Jason Gillespie before him, Lee has been frustrated by injuries in an attempt to build a fitness base after the most spectacular debut by an Australian fast bowler since Lillee.

Lee claimed 42 wickets in his first seven Tests before stress reaction in his back cost him the final three Test against the West Indies last summer. He returned for the one-day series only to aggravate an old elbow injury, which forced him out of the Indian tour.

Then after struggling for match fitness and form through all five Tests in England, Lee suffered a side strain on the last day of the series which has once again prevented him from building a solid base coming into this season. ``It's just a little niggle, heaps of fast bowlers get them,'' Lee said before NSW training yesterday.

``I'm physically feeling very fit but it's just a matter of getting that match fitness. ``It doesn't matter how fit that you are, it's match fitness which really counts in the end. The two things are completely different.''

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