Lee Rules Himself Out For 3rd Test Edgbaston

Edgbaston: Brett Lee has conceded he will be unavailable for the third Test next week and is instead focusing on a potential return in the fourth Test at Leeds. Lee had hoped to recover from his side strain in time for the Edgbaston match, starting next Thursday, but the selectors chose not to rush him back and he will sit out of this weekend's tour match in Northampton.

"I'd be lying if I said I was available for the third Test because it's going to be very, very tight," Lee told the Australian. "I don't want to put the team in jeopardy because there is a chance something might happen. It's not a great outcome if I'm out there bowling and I tear it again."

Lee's delayed return will ease some of the immediate pressure on Mitchell Johnson, who has bowled poorly in the first two Tests. Lee picked up seven wickets in the match against the England Lions before being ruled out of the opening two Tests and he said his sights were now firmly set on the fourth Test at Headingley, starting on August 7.

Scores	Upcoming	Results
Australia vs India - 1st Test West Indies vs Bangladesh - 1st Test 1st ODI - Zimbabwe v Pakistan - November 24, 07:30 GMT 2nd ODI - Zimbabwe v Pakistan - November 26, 07:30 GMT 3rd ODI - Sri Lanka v New Zealand at Kandy No results 3rd T20I - Australia v Pakistan at Hobart Australia won by 7 wickets (with 52 balls remaining)

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.