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Brett Lee’s return to international cricket has been delayed after medical staff deemed his surgically repaired ankle not yet ready for the rigours of bowling. Doug Bollinger, the left-arm fast bowler, has been added to the Australian squad as cover for the forthcoming limited-overs series against Pakistan in the UAE, and is in line to make his one-day international debut. Lee, part of the squad currently in South Africa, will remain in the country to continue his rehabilitation, but will not be available to play for his IPL franchise, Kings XI Punjab, according to Australian team sources.

“The National Selection Panel (NSP) has been advised by Cricket Australia medical staff that Brett Lee is not yet fit enough to resume international cricket,” Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, said. “While it’s disappointing for Brett to miss the start of the Pakistan series, the NSP wants to take a careful approach to his return to the Australian team.”

Lee, who last played during the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne before surgery, was fast-tracked into the one-day squad currently in South Africa, hoping to make an early comeback. However he still has a chance of joining the squad in the UAE provided he makes a speedy recovery.

“Brett’s ankle has recovered well from surgery in January this year,” Alex Kountouris, the team physiotherapist, said. “However, the rehabilitation process is ongoing and, to date, Brett has not bowled sufficiently to allow him to be fit to resume playing cricket. I will be monitoring Brett’s progress to assess his availability for any part of the series against Pakistan in the UAE.”

Bollinger made his Australia debut in the Sydney Test against South Africa but is yet to play a one-day international. “Doug was probably a bit disappointed not to get a run during the Test series in South Africa, but this is an opportunity for him to impress at one-day level for Australia and I’m sure it’s an opportunity he’ll be keen to make the most of,” Hilditch said.

The first ODI against Pakistan is on April 22 in Dubai.

Source:Cricket News

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