Lee's Test hopes will hinge on first class performance: Ponting

Sydney, Nov.11 (ANI): Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has said that fast bowler Brett Lee will have to use the first class route at home to force his way back into the Test team.

Ponting said Lee would have to prove he was over his elbow injury when New South Wales plays Tasmania in Sydney next week.

"You can get away from bowling in the nets, but it is intensity in a match, if anything, that will bring you undone if you have a niggle," Ponting said.

"Hopefully, he gets through that game," the Herald Sun quoted Ponting, as saying in Mumbai

Lee and Peter Siddle are high-profile casualties of an Australian one-day tour of India that also felled all-rounders James Hopes, Moises Henriques (both hamstring) and wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Paine (broken finger).

Lee's bone-spur ailment did not respond to cortisone treatment in India. His tour lasted only six overs of the series-opener at Vadodara.

Kountouris said Lee had bowled well in Sydney off 10-15 paces in his first session since the injury. .

"We will see how he goes later in the week with a view to getting him right for the Shield game," he said.

Lee, 33, said he felt fine after bowling on Monday and hoped his elbow did not flare before he bowled again tomorrow

"I will see how we go from there," Lee said.

There is a queue of candidates, including left-armer Doug Bollinger, swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus and seamer Stuart Clark, for a Test spot backing Siddle and Mitchell Johnson for the first Test at the Gabba.

Kountouris said Cricket Australia had been cautious in its approach to Siddle's injury to minimise the chances of him aggravating what can turn into a nightmare injury for fast bowlers.

"As planned, Peter is having a week off and the expectation is he will bowl next week in time in preparation for the Test," Kountouris said.

Lee has already declared he will produce the trademark pace he has shown in his 76-Test career or bust, regardless of injury. (ANI)