Sydney: Cricket Australia (CA) have confirmed Australian fast bowler Brett Lee will take no part in the Twenty20 and one-day components of Australia’s current VB Tour of South Africa after being diagnosed with appendicitis.
Australian team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said: "Brett complained of some abdominal pain after arriving in Cape Town on Sunday. After consulting specialists and having the relevant investigations he has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will be having surgery in Cape Town later on Monday."
"He will obviously be ruled out of the Twenty20 and ODI series in South Africa and is likely to return to cricket in six to eight weeks," he added.
The Australian team will train on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon prior to the first T20 clash against South Africa in Cape Town on Thursday evening. The second match of the two-game T20 series will take place in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Cricket Australia’s National Selection Panel will make announcement regarding a possible replacement player for Lee in the T20 and ODI squads in due course.