Lee will be given every chance

Profiles / Editor / 22 February 2007 /

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Australia paceman Brett Lee will be given until the last minute to prove he has recovered from torn ankle ligaments ahead of the World Cup.

The Aussies leave for the Caribbean next Tuesday but scans on Lee's left ankle have been delayed until Monday to give him every possible chance of traveling with the rest of the squad.

"I'll be doing everything I can to make sure I have a chance," Lee, who is available at 17 in Betfair's Top Wicket Taker market, told The Australian newspaper. Lee is also just behind Glenn McGrath (3) at 3.05 to finish as Australia's top wicket taker.

Andrew Symonds and Matthew Hayden remain the two biggest concerns for Australia.
Symonds has had surgery on a torn bicep tendon and Hayden broke his toe in the final match of the Chappell-Hadlee Series.

Captain Ricky Ponting is expected to shake off a minor but troublesome back problem, saying: "My back's fine. It's been about a week and the last few nights I've slept a lot better and felt a lot better in the morning.

"Hopefully when I get to the West Indies I'll be pain free and ready to go."
Michael Clarke also has a sore hip but he too should recover in time for Australia's first game against Scotland on March 14.

Australia remain favourites to emerge from Group A as winners and are available at 1.71 and, despite their injury concerns and poor form, can still be backed at 3.35 to win their third World Cup on the spin.

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