Melbourne, Aug 22 : Past and present teammates of Australian fast bowler Brett Lee have been stunned by the news of the couple's split.

A family member of Brett Lee's wife has also admitted to being stunned by the news that the couple's two-year marriage is under stress.

"I had no idea," The Daily Telegraph quoted a former Test player, as saying.

Lee, the Australian Test bowling spearhead, confirmed on Thursday the breakdown of his marriage to Liz Kemp was behind his decision to miss the coming one-day series against Bangladesh.

Kemp's parents are holidaying at Port Douglas and couldn't be reached for comment.

"It takes two to work at a successful relationship," said a relative of Kemp. "Nobody on our side of the family had any clue the pair were facing problems within the marriage," he added. "As far as our family is concerned, they portrayed a loving couple who wanted to spend the rest of their lives together," he said.

Lee and Kemp married in June 2006 in a lavish ceremony at the NSW southern highlands country retreat of Sydney Breakfast broadcaster Alan Jones, after the NSW bowler proposed to the Sydney podiatrist on a tour of South Africa.

Their son, Preston, was born later that year.

Lee, 31, said he was surprised how quickly news of their marital difficulties became public.

ANI