Cricket:Australia have delayed naming their line-up for tomorrow's first npower Test after Brett Lee's rib injury disrupted their Ashes selection plans.
Captain Ricky Ponting had hoped to be able to name his side for the opening Test in Cardiff, but was forced to re-assess his options after fast bowler Lee was ruled out of the reckoning yesterday.
The 32-year-old spearhead suffered his injury playing in the drawn match against England Lions in Worcester last week. Scans yesterday confirmed he would miss the opening Test and could be doubtful for the second Test at Lord's starting on July 16th.
It has prompted new discussions among Australia's management about whether they include off-spinner Nathan Hauritz or rely on an all-seam attack and use part-time spinners like Michael Clarke, Simon Katich and Marcus North.
"Only finding out yesterday afternoon about Brett's injury and the possibility of him being out for a couple of games means we haven't finalised that yet," confirmed Ponting.
"The weather is also hindering things a little bit about what our final make-up will be."
Tomorrow's match will also be Ponting's first Test in Britain since leading Australia to defeat in the 2005 series, but he insists that is not a major factor for the tourists as they prepare for the 2009 series.
"(The) 2005 (series) for me and the rest of the guys in this squad is a long way away," claimed Ponting. "It's almost 50 Test matches ago since the 2005 series.
"There's no doubt there's a lot of hunger around the group, there's a lot of desire to build on what we started in South Africa.
"Our level of play over there was exceptionally high and our standards were high and we want to maintain those through the next couple of months.
"We're really well prepared at the moment and having almost a month to get prepared for one Test match is something that's pretty unusual in all our careers."