Read more about Cricket.
Elbow surgery keeps Lee sidelined
Cricket, 10:48, December 3, 2009 ,
Australia paceman Brett Lee has attempted to save his career in cricket by undergoing surgery to correct ligament damage in his elbow.
The 33-year-old initially broke down with the complaint to his right elbow when he could only bowl six overs of a possible 10 in the first one-day international of the seven-match series against India in Vadodara on October 25.
Lee then aggravated the injury bowling for New South Wales in the Ford Ranger Cup on November 15, which resulted in the decision to go under the knife.
Lee, who has taken 310 Test wickets in 76 matches at 30.81 and 324 ODI victims in 186 appearances at 23.01, will now be looking to get fit in time for the tour of New Zealand in late March.
"He will be required to use an elbow brace for a period of approximately six weeks and then commence more intensive rehabilitation," Cricket Australia medical officer Dr Trefor James said.
"His return to bowling will be determined in due course as he is regularly assessed by the surgeon and Cricket Australia's medical staff."
It completes a disappointing year for Lee after an ankle injury forced him to miss the tour to South Africa and the unsuccessful Ashes campaign in England.