Lee doubtful for Edgbaston

Brett Lee goes through his paces at Northampton today but has been ruled out of Australia's three-day tour match there

Brett Lee is ever more unlikely to feature in next week's third npower Ashes Test at Edgbaston after being ruled out of Australia's tour match against Northamptonshire.

Pace spearhead Lee has been out of the equation so far in this summer's series, since injuring his side in Australia's final warm-up match against the England Lions at Worcester at the start of this month.

The problem has steadfastly refused to clear up, and it was no surprise to see Lee restricted to peripheral stretching and jogging exercises at the County Ground this morning while his team-mates prepared in earnest in the nets to face their hosts in a three-day match starting tomorrow.

Mike Hussey, standing in as captain against his old county for the rested Ricky Ponting, later confirmed at a press conference that Lee will not be playing.

An Australia team spokesman declined to confirm Lee's unavailability in Northampton definitely rules him out of an imminent Test return. But the consensus is that there is little chance of him being risked next week, unless in an emergency.

In the 32-year-old pace bowler's absence in the first two Tests, Australia dominated an opening draw in Cardiff and then lost at Lord's last week.

One of their main worries has been the form of Lee's strike-bowling partner Mitchell Johnson, who will play against Northamptonshire in the hope of finding his range in time to help Australia battle back into the five-match series in Birmingham.