Lee to front match referee

Pace bowler Brett Lee was tonight charged on two counts of misconduct at the end of another frustrating day for Australia in the Third Test against New Zealand at the WACA Ground in Perth.

Lee, who claimed figures of 4/56 in New Zealand's second innings to finish as Australia's leading wicket-taker in the series, faced possible censure over an incident that followed the dismissal of tailender Shane Bond midway through the day's final session.

The fiery paceman appeared to verbally abuse Bond upon clean bowling the number ten batsman, then followed his words with an aggressive sendoff.

It prompted match referee Jackie Hendriks to charge Lee with two breaches of the International Cricket Council's Code of Conduct - the use of crude and abusive language and offensive gestures, and conduct unbecoming in bringing the game into disrepute.

Lee faces a possible fine and/or suspension for his actions, though Hendriks' verdicts on the two charges will not be made public until tomorrow.

Any form of sanction against Lee would add to the woes of an Australian team already staring at possible defeat against New Zealand. The Australians will resume in the morning at a second innings score of 2/69 as they chase a near-impossible victory target of 440.