Lee prefers IPL over county cricket

Australian pace spearhead Brett Lee is determined to open the bowling for his team in the Ashes series in England this summer despite the match-winning performances of Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus in South Africa.

Lee told the media yesterday after his first net session after ankle injury in January: "I'm the fittest and strongest I've ever felt."

u00a0Lee has undergone a strenuous rehabilitation programme, consisting of running, rowing, cycling, and swimming.
He has put on 11 kg up from 82 kg, since his return from the debilitating tour of India last October.

"Two days after the (ankle) operation, I was in the gym doing upper-body work, and when I got off the crutches and out of the moon boot, I started the lower body work," he said.

Lee, who is keen to achieve the 400-wicket landmark in Tests and ODIs, refuses to believe his place in the Australian team is in danger.

"Not from my point of view," he says. "As soon as I'm fit I'm looking forward to leading the Australian attack again u2026 hopefully my record will speak for itself."

"With 300 wickets under my belt, I'm looking forward to getting in there and leading the attack. It's something I love doing and something I've done the last few years and enjoyed it.

"I've only bowled in one net session, but I've got four weeks to get my speed up."

Brett Lee has decided to forego playing in the English county league in preference to the Indian Premier League by way of preparation for the all-important Ashes.

Lee is hoping to make the Kings XI Punjab's first IPL game against the Delhi Daredevils on April 12 his comebacku00a0match.

Source: The Telegraph