Injury Puts Brett Lee in Doubt for Ashes Opener

Cardiff: Australia face an anxious wait over the fitness of fast bowler Brett Lee for Wednesday's first Ashes Test against England after he suffered a rib injury.

Lee, one of the survivors from the 2005 Australia squad that lost the Ashes 2-1 in England, indicated soreness in the left side of his ribs after last week's draw with the England Lions where he appeared to bowl himself into contention for the Test team.

The 32-year-old quick was due to undergo a scan later on Monday and the results may not be available until Tuesday morning.

Lee, who has taken over 300 Test wickets, struck six times against the second-string Lions at Worcester.

Prior to this tour, he had been sidelined with foot and heel injuries and so missed the 2-1 series win in South Africa earlier this year where Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle starred in his absence.

Lee has not played Test cricket since December when South Africa beat Australia by nine wickets in Melbourne.

Scores	Upcoming	Results
South Africa vs Pakistan - 3rd ODI 4th Test - Australia v India - December 26-30, 23:30 GMT 1st Test - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan - December 26-30, 07:30 GMT 3rd ODI - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan at Harare Afghanistan won by 8 wickets (with 139 balls remaining) 3rd T20I - West Indies v Bangladesh at St Vincent Bangladesh won by 80 runs

Related links

The Ashes, 2009 News

Ashes Light up Testing Year for England [+]

England started 2009 by losing both their captain and their coach yet they ended it having triumphed in an Ashes series.

Clarke Blames In-accessibility of Indoor Stadium for Ashes Defeat [+]

Australia's acting skipper Michael Clarke has blamed lack of access to the facilities at Oval for their drubbing in the fifth Test, resulting in Ashes defeat.

I Misread Oval Pitch, Omitting Hauritz was a Mistake - Nielsen [+]

Forced into an introspection mode after the Ashes, Australian coach conceded he misread the pitch at The Oval and omitting Nathan Hauritz was a mistake.

Ponting Has Deserted the Sinking Ship - Thomson [+]

Australian pace great Jeff Thomson has lashed out at skipper Ricky Ponting for failing to lead the side during the Ashes series which they lost to England 1-2.

Players Back Ponting's Captaincy After Ashes Loss [+]

Ricky Ponting received the support of his players on Wednesday after they returned home following their Ashes defeat to England at the weekend.

Chappell Bats For Ponting as Jones Talks up Warne [+]

Former Australia captain Ian Chappell has come out in support of current skipper Ricky Ponting despite the Ashes series loss in England.

Broad Ambition Stretches Beyond Ashes [+]

Ashes hero Stuart Broad wants England to use their Test series win over Australia as a springboard for further success.

Oval Test Hero Trott Says he Just Tries to be Himself [+]

England's debutant hero Jonathan Trott says he's no Kevin Pietersen, but his own man.

Australia Continue Fatih on Ponting's After Ashes Loss - Sutherland [+]

Calls for Ricky Ponting to relinquish his captaincy in the wake of Australia's Ashes series loss to England are "completely unfair", Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland said.

Australia Bemoan Ashes Loss, Number One Status [+]

Having been the cricket world's unremitting bully-boy for nearly two decades, Australia was brought down to earth with an almighty thud, losing the Ashes to England, and their number one status to boot.