Brett Lee passed fit to resume bowling

New South Wales and Australia fast bowler Brett Lee has been given the all-clear to resume bowling, it was announced on Monday.

Lee had been sidelined since early December following the second Ansett Australia Test match against the West Indies in Perth, when scans revealed bony stress in his left lower back.

But further scans on Monday, the results of which were assessed by Australian team doctor Trefor James and team physiotherapist Errol Alcott, showed that the condition had healed.

Now Lee will resume bowling, gradually increasing his workload over the coming days. And the hope is that providing he suffers no reaction to his first bowling workout for more than a month, he will be match-fit in time for the Australia's second match in the Carlton Series, against the West Indies in Brisbane on Sunday 14 January.

Brett Lee said: "I'm very happy to have been given the all-clear to start bowling again and now I'm aiming for Sunday's match if chosen.

"It's good that our medical staff picked up the problem early and now the line on the scan has gone I can get back to training, bowling, throwing, diving and getting ready for cricket again.

"I've not bowled for six weeks so I expect to be stiff once I start again but I'm just looking forward to getting involved in the Carlton Series now.

"It's been good to get some time off but it's been a tough six weeks watching while the boys have been playing.

"It's been great to see them win 15 Tests in a row and I'm just keen to get back now," added Lee.

Australia plays a practice match at the Junction Oval, Melbourne against a Victorian XI on Tuesday from 10am, then starts its Carlton Series campaign with a day-night match against the West Indies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday 11 January.

The current 13-man squad will also contest the matches against the West Indies in Brisbane (14 January) & Sydney (17 January) and against Zimbabwe in Melbourne (21 January).