Brett Lee in Doubt for 3rd Test

Brett Lee has been admitted to hospital after experiencing problems with his left knee and is only a 50/50 chance of playing the third test.

Lee has been experiencing swelling and discomfort in his left knee that Australia’s physiotherapist Errol Alcott has said could be releated to a cut Lee sustained while fielding during the first test. “He’s 50-50 chance, but that’s what I always say.” Alcott added. Alcott also updated Glenn McGrath’s injury status saying “Glenn is proceeding as well as expected,” added Alcott. “He had a scan today and that showed extensive ligament damage, but we knew that anyway.”

New South Wales paceman Stuart Clark has been called in as cover for the Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee injuries and will join up with the Australian squad from Middlesex where he is currently playing county cricket. Clark has been in good form for Middlesex and took 5 for 61 in his recent county cricket match against Warwickshire and averages 31.16 with the ball and 12.46 with the bat in first class cricket across his 53 matches.

Regardless, his selection comes as a bit of a surprise, as Clark does not currently have a Cricket Australia contract, and was outshone by fellow New South Wales bowlers Nathan Bracken and Matthew Nicholson last year, both of whom have played test cricket in the past and have superior career records.

By way of explanation, Australia’s chairman of selectors Trever Johns said “We consider Stuart to be a similar style bowler to Glenn McGrath,” and added “He is already in England and showing some good form, so we have selected him to provide some cover for the current injuries.”