Sydney, Oct 27 (IANS) Australian pacer Brett Lee’s mystery elbow injury ahead of the second one-dayer against India threatens to derail his Test comeback hopes.
Lee (elbow strain) along with paceman Mitchell Johnson (rolled ankle) is in serious doubt for Wednesday’s clash in Nagpur, while all-rounder James Hopes has a hamstring tear.

The timing could not be worse for veteran Lee - trying to convince selectors of his durability as he strives to again be Australia’s Test spearhead this summer and take 400 Test and one-day wickets.

National selectors will have noted 76-Test Lee’s failure to get through 10 overs when skipper Ricky Ponting needed him in Sunday’s nail-biting, four-run win in the series opener against India at Vadodara.

Ricky Ponting wanted Lee to bowl at the death against menacing India tailenders Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar at Vadodara. But the Aussie skipper wisely decided against gambling on Lee’s fitness, Herald Sun reported.

Australian team physio therapist Kevin Sims confirmed the trio had scans in Vadodara, but Cricket Australia does not regard the injuries as serious enough to warrant reinforcements at this stage.

“Brett Lee has a mild right elbow strain and will continue to be treated and assessed prior to the next game,” Sims said.

Lee was impressive, taking 1-28 from six overs, before exiting the attack with sore elbow.