Brett Lee says he may never play cricket again

Brett Lee, the Australian fast bowler, has conceded he may never play cricket again.

An elbow injury ruled the 33-year-old out of the entire Australian summer and he underwent surgery in December.

The news will come as a huge blow to Australia's plans, although may serve as a filip to England who travel Down Under for the Ashes series at the end of the year.

Lee has revelled in his role as England's tormentor-in-chief since the retirement of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, although he missed last summer's Ashes with a side strain, suffered before the opening Test in CardiffLee has not played in a Test match since late 2008 and while he has remained an important part of Australia's one-day team, he admits he may never wear the baggy green cap again.

"As far as my cricket goes, anything is possible - I may play one-dayers, or no cricket at all," he said. "I may never bowl another ball and if that's the case, I'm so satisfied with my career and my longevity. I'm not saying it's definitely over, but I'm not sure what I want to be just yet.

"To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure what I still want to do in my cricketing life. I need to get to the stage where, if I want to, I can do what I need to do on the field. If it's the case that I don't play again, well, that's the case. There is a part of me that would like to play some sort of cricket again."

Lee has suffered his share of injuries during a career in which he has taken 310 wickets in 76 Tests, but says his current problem has been the most painful of his career.

"This has been the hardest surgery I've been through. It's certainly been the most painful," Lee said. "There's no miracle treatment for me. It's taking time. I still don't know when I'll be able to bowl again. I can't even give you an exact time.

"I will see how the arm pulls up because I can't achieve any aspirations in cricket unless my body is functional. It just takes time, really. It's something I can't rush."

In Lee's absence, Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle and Doug Bollinger have emerged as capable international players. And although Lee admitted immediate retirement was not be out of the question, he says he would speak with his close friends, including Ricky Ponting, before making up his mind.

"There'll be some key people I confide in," he said. "I'll keep it mainly in-house, then talk to the team, but at some stage I will sit down with Punter [Ponting], if that's needed. I'm making a lifestyle decision here as opposed to a cricketing one."

Source:The Times