Australian fast bowler Brett Lee will link up with the his team-mates on the Travelex Australian Tour of the UK 2001 ahead of schedule to assist with his rehabilitation from the elbow injury he suffered last summer, it was announced today.

Lee was originally scheduled to join up with the tour party along with other members of the Test squad on 19 June after coming through a rigorous fitness assessment in Sydney on 19 May with no ill effects.

However, given the onset of winter in Sydney and Brett's need to advance his rehabilitation through bowling, it was felt it would be beneficial for him to link up early with the squad in the UK and he will now fly out of Australia in early June.

This will allow him to continue his gradual build-up towards full match fitness through conditioning work with fitness advisor Jock Campbell and by bowling in the nets under the supervision of New South Wales physiotherapist Patrick Farhart, who has treated Brett throughout his recovery period.

By doing this, it is expected Brett will be fully match-fit by the time the build up to the first Test begins following the NatWest One-Day International Series.

Australian Team Doctor Trefor James said: "Brett is making excellent progress and has reached the level of recovery where he is able to bowl and throw, as he showed last Saturday in Sydney.

"However, he is still in the rehabilitation phase of his recovery from the very serious elbow injury he suffered, an injury that required major reconstructive surgery, and I do not believe he has yet reached the stage of being fit to participate in a match, although he is not too far away from that point.

"Given the recent weather conditions in Sydney I, together with the other members of the ACB's medical staff and Brett's surgeon, have recommended he travel earlier than planned to the UK to further progress his rehabilitation.

"He is not yet fit to participate in representative matches for Australia, but by going to the UK sooner than he was originally due to, he will be able to improve his bowling fitness far more effectively than he could by staying at home.

"If his progress continues I have no doubt he will be more than ready to play by the start of the build up to the first Test of the tour."

Brett Lee said: "This is great news and I can't wait to get over to the UK to work on my fitness.

"My early arrival in the UK will be the perfect chance to get myself in the best condition I can be, ready for my first Ashes series. What I've got to do now is to get some work done in the nets and with Jock Campbell so that I will be able to show some form when I get my chance leading up to the first Test.

"Although I won't be playing in the one-day series, the chance to be around the squad again after a lengthy period on the sidelines will be the perfect incentive to get myself right for the Tests that follow.

"The last few months, missing the finals of the Carlton Series and then having to sit out the tour of India have been really frustrating, but this news means I really can see the light at the end of the tunnel now," he added.

Brett suffered his elbow injury in the Carlton Series match against Zimbabwe in Perth on 4 February.

The one-day squad departs for the UK via Gallipoli from Sydney on Saturday 26 May 2001.

The NatWest one-day international series begins with Australia's match against Pakistan on 9 June at Cardiff. It then plays England at Bristol (10 June), England at Old Trafford (14 June - day-night), Pakistan at Chester-Le-Street (16 June), Pakistan at Trent Bridge (19 June - day-night) and England at The Oval (21 June) with the final set to take place at Lord's on 23 June.

The npower Ashes series begins with the first Test at Edgbaston on 5 July. The other Tests will be played at Lord's (19-23 July), Trent Bridge (2-6 August), Headingley (16-20 August) and The Oval (23-27 August).

© 2001 Australian Cricket Board

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