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Home  » Cricket » I am not finished yet, insists Lee

I am not finished yet, insists Lee

Source: PTI
October 29, 2009 18:40 IST
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Brett LeeThe wear and tear of the last 10 years have taken a toll on Brett Lee's body but the Australian pace spearhead has no plans of cutting down on any formats of the game to prolong his career.

Lee said the focus now is to get his place back in the Australian Test squad but he was not planning to sacrifice ODIs or Twenty20 to achieve that.

"To constantly bowl 150 kmph for 10-15 years will obviously result in injuries but I'm not finished yet. I'm feeling fresh and still have lot more years of cricket left. I still love the game and have passion for the game," Lee said in New Delhi.

"Any opportunity to play for your country is something special and as bowler I'm certainly not complaining. I love to play all formats of the game. I love Twenty20, it is exciting but I'm hungry as ever to get back in the Test team," he added.

The 33-year-old pacer said the injury sustained during the first ODI against India in Vadodara was unfortunate and he was hoping for a commendable performance in rest of the seven-match series to earn his place back in the Test side.

He also ruled out suggestions that playing in the Champions League just before the bilateral series had anything to do with his injury. "I don't think my injury has anything to do with Champions League. I wanted to play as much as possible, especially after bowling in the nets throughout the Ashes.

"The opportunity came up when we qualified for the Champions League last year. I was born in New South Wales so I'm always ready to represent it whenever I get an opportunity. But having said that playing for Australia definitely comes first," said Lee.

"It is unfortunate that I picked up a slight elbow niggle during the first ODI."

Incidentally, Australia skipper Ricky Ponting had earlier claimed that the inaugural Champions League has hindered his side's preparation for the series as three of his key players - Lee, Nathan Hauritz and Doug Bollinger were busy playing for NSW in the cash-rich Twenty20 event.

Lee, however, refused to speculate on his availability for the third ODI on Saturday. "I will know whether I would be able to play only after tomorrow's training. I'm not going to make any call today, but hope I will be there. I have not had much rest for the last 4 to 6 months, so it is bound to happen," he said.

After the thrilling win in the series opener, Australia slumped to a humiliating defeat in the second ODI, but Lee said it would be wrong to undermine the visitors as the series is still young.

"I am eager to return, (James) Hopes is also very keen, (Moises) Henriques has joined the team and even the guys are waiting in the wings.

"We were outclassed but it doesn't mean we are finished. Still five matches are left in the series," he said.

Sachin Tendulkar, who is yet to make an impact in the series, scoring just 14 and four, but Lee said even though their plans worked in first two games, Aussies would be fool to write off the champion batsman.

"He (Tendulkar) is a class act. So far we were lucky to pick him up cheaply but it is unfair to write him off. So far it is going well and we will stick to our plans in the next matches," the fast bowler said.

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