'Surgery will extend my career' - Lee

Brett Lee is hopeful that the ankle trouble that forced him to miss the World Cup will help him play at the highest level for longer. Lee expects to be bowling within two months and hopes to play in Australia's Twenty20 World Cup campaign in September.

"Having a bit of a layoff is good for the body," he told AAP. "I've missed a little bit of time with cricket. I had 19 months when I was on the sideline carrying the drinks [in 2004-05], and now this. Although I'm 30 I still feel like I'm 27 as far as bowling age. The body still feels really young."

Lee injured his ankle while training during the Chappell-Hadlee Series in New Zealand in February and underwent surgery to remove bone fragments and scar tissue from his ankle and have his ligaments reattached. "The ankle's good - it's been about three weeks since the operation now and it's full steam ahead," Lee said in The Australian.

"I'm back doing cardio work, I'm not back running as yet, that will be early next month. In July, I should be back bowling. There's no reason why I won't be playing the next match Australia does."

With the cancellation of the Zimbabwe tour, Australia's next engagement is the Twenty20 competition in South Africa. It is hardly the World Cup, but Lee will simply be glad to be back on the field after a frustrating few months.

"Initially it took me a while to get over the disappointment of missing the World Cup," Lee told AFP. "Once I pushed that aside, I definitely know that this is going to help me long-term. I see it putting another year and a half hopefully on my career. It gives a chance for my muscles and bones to relax and get a bit of time off. I want to be the fittest I've ever been, and there's no reason why I can't be."