Australia have been left reeling with the news that pace bowler Brett Lee is set to miss the third Test at Old Trafford.
Lee, who very nearly guided Australia to victory in the second Test at Edgbaston on Sunday with a heroic unbeaten 43, is hospitalised in Birmingham with an infection in his left knee.
Lee's expected absence is a double blow in the light of Glenn McGrath's current absence.
Australia's physiotherapist Errol Alcott rates Lee's chances of playing at Old Trafford as at best 50-50.
He also admitted the paceman will not be travelling with the rest of the team to Manchester today.
Alcott said: "Brett is comfortable in hospital. He is presently on an intravenous drip with antibiotics being administered.
"He has also had a blood test and we will probably know the result tomorrow morning."
Alcott added: "We are optimistic that the treatment he is having will have an early resolution and he will be released as soon as possible. Beyond this I do not know what is happening."
Lee is reported to have noticed some soreness on Sunday morning just 45 minutes before batting against England.
The soreness came from an old abrasion sustained in the first Test at Lord's and is just above the left kneecap.
Alcott said: "There were a few suspect areas around the abrasion. We called in the doctor who gave Lee some antibiotics.
"He was sore all over from the hiding he got in his innings.
"I checked him out this morning and he was concerned about his knee.
"He was uncomfortable, it was swollen and it was very hot.
"Generally, the medical people are confident about the treatment he is getting at the hospital and that he is going to respond.
"But the medical people will not be happy about releasing him until his clinical signs have been resolved."
Alcott insists McGrath is progressing as well as can be expected after his pre-match injury which ruled him out of the Edgbaston Test.
