Lee out of one-day game against Windies

Australia will begin the task of repairing their recent poor record in one-day cricket internationals without exciting paceman Brett Lee.

While the country's fastest bowler was Monday given the all-clear to resume bowling after six weeks out with a back injury, he was ruled out of Thursday's opening triangular series match against the West Indies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Lee will aim to return for Australia's second match in the tournament, which also features Zimbabwe, against the West Indies in Brisbane next Sunday.

Lee was jubilant when given the go-ahead to resume bowling, following another scan on his back.

"It has been a tough six weeks sitting on the sidelines," he said.

Lee will return to the bowling crease at a net session on Tuesday but will not play in a practice match against Victoria. Tuesday's practice match has been organised to ensure Australia quickly slips back into one-day mode, having lost the opening match in the series for the past three years.

The team has only won two of its past eight one-day internationals despite dominating Test cricket with a world record 15 straight wins. And while the team is odds-on to win the series, experienced batsman Darren Lehmann has warned against complacency.

"The West Indies are starting to show some form and Zimbabwe are a really good one-day side," he said.

"I think it will be a tough competition and we are going to have to perform at our best."

Lehmann returns to the one-day side for the first time in almost 18 months after being dropped following the Sri Lankan tour in late 1999.

The powerful left-hander has dominated the domestic one-day cup series this season, scoring 405 runs in six matches at 101.25 while his strike rate is 105.5 runs per 100 deliveries.

Lee is keen to return after having not played since the second Test in Perth, after which he was diagnosed as suffering stress in his back.

Mail Cricket Editor