Brett Lee has flown to South Africa in a bid to advance his comeback from ankle surgery, and will seek to train with the touring Australian one-day side in the coming days. Lee’s trip across the Indian Ocean comes amid speculation he could be in the frame for a surprise recall to the Australian squad for the limited-overs series against Pakistan, which is expected to be named on Wednesday. move to reinstate Lee for the series in the United Arab Emirates was considered highly unlikely last month, given that he has not played a match since undergoing surgery to his left ankle in January. But an intense training regime – he has worked with a personal trainer six days a week since the beginning of February and added 10kg of lean muscle mass – has accelerated his recovery, and medical staff are understood to be impressed with the progress he has made.
Lee is not guaranteed to be recalled to the squad for the Pakistan series, but the fact he has entered selection calculations indicates he is nearing full fitness. Should Andrew Hilditch’s panel opt for the more conservative approach and overlook him for the three-week one-day series, Lee is likely to make his return to competitive cricket with the Kings XI Punjab in the IPL, as originally planned.
He has been confined to bowling indoors in recent weeks as Australian cricket fields have been turned over to the nation’s various football codes. The opportunity to train outside is understood to have been the driving force behind his journey to South Africa, and Lee will continue his rehabilitation programme under the supervision of the New South Wales physiotherapist Pat Farhart, who has made the trip with him.
The progress of Lee, and Australia’s wavering one-day form in South Africa, will prompt a nervous wait for the incumbents ahead of Wednesday’s squad announcement for the Pakistan series.
http://content.cricinfo.com/ipl2009/content/story/398630.html
What do you think of this?
Should he be in the ODI side (surely not!) ?
I think that Brett should be picked in the squad to play Pakistan.
But i don’t think that he should play every game.
Pick him for one twenty/20
and 2/3 odi games at the most,
He has to be 100% for the ashes as he is the only aussie bowler apart from Shaun Tait that can bowl at 95 mph constantly, and he is the only bowler to have played in england before, so they need his experience.
The job will not be so simple for Lee.It will not be something like walking along the park for him.The South African batting will not allow Lee to seetle to his normal bowling.They will be attacking Lee right from ball one as he is coming back from a long ankle injury.
Not in this South Africa series .Let hi prove himself as he was in bad form.He can do well in IPL and get into the team for 20 -20 world cup.
i dont think that he should play in ODI.. and y he join team there? strange one
He’s a better player than akhtar, surely hope he performs better
he should play ipl first , get him to national side slowly and steadily
No he isn’t ready yet. He is merely going for outdoor bowling practice,but as I have said here several times, he hopes to play in a few matches V Pakistan & will play IPL.This is not new news.