Lee faces two days in hospital

Brett Lee tried not to let his skin get prickly last summer, but he was unable to avoid a face infection that forced him into hospital at the weekend. Lee, who did his best to stay cheerful despite being regularly overlooked for the Test side, was released from hospital yesterday after two days under supervision.

"It was purely precautionary," Lee's manager Neil Maxwell said. "He's been treated with antibiotics and he's fine."

Maxwell said Lee had no idea where he picked up the skin problem, but it would not hinder his Ashes-Tour preparation. Since the end of the New Zealand series he has holidayed in Western Australia and twice visited India for business and promotional trips.