Elbow injury threatens Brett Lee’s Test return

VADODARA - Australian fast bowler Brett Lee’s mystery elbow injury is threatening to derail his Test comeback hopes, reports The Herald Sun.

Australian team physiotherapist Kevin Sims confirmed that apart from Lee, Mitchell Johnson and James Hopes have had scans in Vadodara, and added that Cricket Australia is viewing the injuries to be serious enough to warrant reinforcements.

“Brett Lee has a mild right elbow strain and will continue to be treated and assessed prior to the next game. Mitchell Johnson suffered an inversion strain of his left ankle. He will now receive treatment and, as with Brett, it will depend on how he responds to treatment over the next two days before a decision is made on his availability,” Sims was quoted, as saying.

As far as Lee is concerned, the timing of his injury could not have come at a worse time, with him trying to convince the selectors of his durability.

The national selectors will have noted the 76-Test Lee’s failure to get through 10 overs when skipper Ricky Ponting needed him in Sunday’s nail-biting, four-run win in the series opener against India at Vadodara.

Ponting wanted Lee to bowl at the death against Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar, but wisely decided against gambling on Lee’s fitness.

“I would have liked to have bowled him in those last few overs of the game. It would have been nice to have Brett and hopefully we have got him for the second game,” Ponting said.

Lee was impressive taking 1-28 from his six overs before exiting the attack with elbow soreness. (ANI)