SYDNEY, Nov 15 AAP - Brett Lee booked a return to Test cricket with another dominant performance for NSW today - the only question remaining is, when will he make his comeback?

On a rain-interrupted second day of the Pura Cup match at the SCG, the paceman added two more wickets to his five from yesterday to clean up South Australia for 397 in its first innings.

At stumps, the Blues were in serious trouble at 3-84 in reply with Steve Waugh unbeaten on 18 and Simon Katich on three.

Lee all but assured himself of a berth for the third Test on the pace-friendly WACA pitch, making himself impossible to ignore as he completed a career-best haul of 7-114 in front of national selector David Boon.

It was Lee's third bag of five or more wickets in as many Pura Cup innings following his omission from the first Ashes Test.

But whether the 26-year-old tearaway wins a spot at the expense of Andy Bichel for next week's second Test in Adelaide remains to be seen after the Australian side, minus Lee, thrashed England in Brisbane.

"With Brett, he came back to Pura cricket and New South Wales and he's done more than any of us as selectors could have asked," Boon said .

"He's got a bit of rhythm back, he's bowling quick again.

"One little thing I've noticed, he's probably a bit closer to the stumps than what he has been in recent times and he's got three five-wicket hauls. What more can you ask?"

With injury concerns still hanging over fellow quick Jason Gillespie, Lee has demonstrated he is ready to step in if needed.

SA was off to a promising start today after resuming at 5-319.

Shane Deitz hit Lee for three fours in four balls but only managed to add 17 to his overnight score before he was bowled by Don Nash for 21 in the fifth over of the day.

Michael Miller (nine) then edged Nash to Simon Katich, who could only watch as the ball bounced out of his hands and into Mark Waugh's next to him at second slip.

Lee had tailender Paul Rofe (four) caught by Steve Waugh shortly before rain stopped proceedings an hour into the day's play.

Lee then mopped up the tail after an extended lunch break when he had Ryan Harris (27) caught by Matthew Phelps to close out the Redbacks' innings.

Three early wickets had NSW floundering when the rain forced the players off the field for a third time.

Lanky paceman Paul Rofe made the initial breakthrough for the visitors, bowling Phelps for seven in the third over of the innings.

Harris then struck with some fancy footwork off his own bowling to run out Michael Slater.

Michael Bevan pushed the ball forward of short square leg and set off while Harris, on his follow through, flicked the ball onto the stumps with his left foot to find Slater out of his ground.

John Davison was brought into the attack in the 25th over and snared a wicket with his first ball when he had Bevan caught behind by Shane Deitz for 33, sending the Blues to tea at 3-74.

Steve Waugh and Katich managed to add just 10 runs to the total before play was abandoned for the day.

© 2002 AAP

This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Cricket Board.