Lee injury opens door for Harris

Brett Lee's latest injury has paved the way for the inclusion of Ryan Harris, above, in Australia's World T20 squad

Ryan Harris has been called into Australia’s World Twenty20 squad as a replacement for the injured Brett Lee.

Lee, 33, suffered an arm injury in Australia's surprise one-run defeat in yesterday's warm-up match against Zimbabwe in St Lucia.

Harris and Doug Bollinger were immediately mooted as potential replacements after both excelling in the recent Indian Premier League.

National selection panel chairman Andrew Hilditch said: "While it is obviously disappointing for Brett, this gives Ryan Harris a wonderful opportunity to join the Australian squad in the West Indies for the ICC World Twenty20 tournament.

"Ryan was very close to selection in the initial 15-man squad. He has been in excellent form for Australia in one-day and Test formats and during his recent stint at the IPL.

"We believe he is the ideal replacement for Brett, being a right-arm swing bowler with a good ability to bowl at the death of an innings.

“His ability with the bat and in the field also adds extra versatility to our squad."

Lee completed the match against Zimbabwe, bowling four overs and taking 1-13, but after complaining of soreness afterwards he later had MRI scans which revealed the extent of the damage.

Team physio Alex Kountouris said: "During yesterday's game against Zimbabwe Brett developed increasing right elbow pain and by the time he completed his final over the pain was significant.

"At the conclusion of the innings it was obvious Brett had sustained an injury to one of the forearm muscles near the elbow and this was confirmed by a subsequent MRI scan.

"Due to the condensed nature of this tournament, Brett will not recover in time to take any further part and has therefore been withdrawn from the squad.

"This is not a recurrence of the elbow injury that recently required surgery but a new injury that will require specialist opinion upon his return to Australia."

The news is the latest setback for Lee, who retired from Test cricket in February because of injury and has not played for Australia in any format since October.

He missed the Australian summer with an elbow injury and, after working his way back to fitness and playing in the IPL, had hoped to rekindle his international career in a fearsome pace attack alongside Shaun Tait, Dirk Nannes and Mitchell Johnson in the Caribbean.

Australia play their second warm-up game against the Windward Islands on Thursday before beginning their World Twenty20 campaign against Pakistan on Sunday.