Australian pace spearhead Brett Lee was Friday ruled out of next month`s
World Cup in Caribbean with an ankle injury, Cricket Australia said.
It is a shattering blow for the Australians, whose World Cup-strength
bowling attack was flayed by New Zealand in last weekend`s 3-0 Chappell
Hadlee Trophy series loss.
Stuart Clark, who was a controversial omission from
the original 15-man squad named last week, is his replacement, pending International
Cricket Council approval, CA said.
Australian team doctor Trefor James said following a
review by an orthopaedic specialist it was decided that Lee`s damaged left ankle
ligaments would keep him out of cricket for two to three months.
Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said in a CA statement today that he
had been advised that Lee`s ankle injury was more serious than first expected.
Team medical staff in consultation with specialists advised
that lee will be unavailable for the World Cup, he said.
CA said it has written to the ICC`s technical committee to
receive approval for Lee to be replaced by Clark, in accordance with the relevant
ICC rules.
"It is a great disappointment for Brett Lee that he is
unable to take his place in the cricket World Cup and is a significant blow
for the planning and preparation in place for the tournament," Hilditch
said in the CA statement.
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