Brett Lee has not recovered sufficiently from his ankle injury in time to take his place in the Australia squad for the one-day series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates later this month.
Brett Lee has not recovered sufficiently from his ankle injury in time to take his place in the Australia squad for the one-day series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates later this month.
Cricket Australia's national selection panel announced Lee is not yet fit enough and will be replaced in the squad by New South Wales quick Doug Bollinger.
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The fast bowler will remain in South Africa to continue his rehabilitation with a view to joining the squad at a later date if he is deemed fit to do so.
"Brett's ankle has recovered well from surgery in January this year. However, the rehabilitation process is ongoing and, to date, Brett has not bowled sufficiently to allow him to be fit to resume playing cricket," Australia team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said.
"I will be monitoring Brett's progress to assess his availability for any part of the VB series against Pakistan in the UAE."
CA want the 32-year-old to be 100% fit before rushing him back from such a serious injury.
"While it's disappointing for Brett to miss the start of the VB Pakistan series, the NSP wants to take a careful approach to his return to the Australian team," NSP chairman Andrew Hilditch said.
Lee's withdrawal presents Bollinger with a big chance to impress on the international stage.
"Doug was probably a bit disappointed not to get a run during the Test series in South Africa, but this is an opportunity for Doug to impress at one-day level for Australia and I'm sure it's an opportunity he'll be keen to make the most of."
The first of the five one-dayers against Pakistan is on April 22.
Meanwhile, Australia's failure against South Africa in the current one-day series has consigned Ricky Ponting's side to third place in the ODI rankings.
The four-time world champions are now behind the Proteas and India, who have benefited from Australia's loss in form to rise to second spot.
Third place and a total of 121 points is Australia's lowest ranking and rating since the listings were launched in October 2002.
Australia have held the top spot for 69 out of 79 months since then, including 52 months straight at the top from October 2002 to January 2007.
Ponting's team have the chance to reclaim the number two spot with victory in the fifth and final one-dayer against South Africa on Friday.
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