Ponting optimistic about Lee's in-time recovery for Friday's tri-series match - Cricket News Update
The stand-in captain of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RT-Ponting-c2377 is hopeful that the injured pace bowler Brett Lee will recover in time for Friday’s tri-nation series match against Sri Lanka.
Brett Lee, the 35-year-old http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-South-Wales-c823 fast bowler, broke his right toe fielding during the second and the last T20 International against India earlier this month.
Early diagnosis had ruled the speedster out of action for up to six weeks. But Lee recovered faster than expected, and is likely to make a return at some point in the ongoing Commonwealth Bank series, also featuring http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 and Sri Lanka besides the hosts
Australia.
Ponting, who has been given the task of deputising for the regular skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Clarke-c1978 in Friday’s match against Sri Lanka, said that he will finalise his playing XI before the toss tomorrow, to give the speedster maximum time to prove his fitness.
"He had a run yesterday and his toe pulled up particularly well," said Ponting of Lee while speaking to the media reporters on Thursday.
"He's got a lot of bowling to get through today and we'll see how he pulls up tomorrow morning, so we won't be able to finalise our team until the toss tomorrow. Fingers crossed for Brett that he comes up well," he added further.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Brett-Lee-c48419 was also hopeful of making a quick return to the national side and he himself had targeted Friday’s CB series match at the SCG for a comeback.
"I'm striving to be back for the game in Sydney (against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 on Friday),” Lee had said earlier this week. “I'm doing everything I possibly can to play. I've (played with pain) on numerous occasions and I know I can play with a broken toe... you do
these things when you play for your country,” he added further.
Lanky pace-man, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/BW-Hilfenhaus-c1204 has been called into the squad as Lee’s replacement but he has not played a single CB series game so far
The ace Australia pacer, who had retired from Test cricket in February 2010 to extend his one-day career, has so far played 205 One Day Internationals claiming 357 wickets at an impressive average of 22.89.
Tags: