Australia’s  cricket coach Tim Nielsen is optimistic that fast bowler Brett Lee may be fot to make his international comeback in the Twenty20 international against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi next week.

Lee, who uses Woodworm cricket bats, has not played international cricket since the Boxing Day Test against South Africa in Melbourne because of ankle and foot injuries which required surgery.

He returned to action recently in the Indian Premier League but has now flown to the United Arab Emirates, where Australia’s one-day series has been re-located, to be assessed by the national medical team.

"He  bowled in the nets but we will not play him on Friday," Nielsen said.
"If he continues to progress well, we may consider him for the Twenty20 match."
 
Lee arrived in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and trained with the Australian squad the following day. Australian team doctor Trefor James said he would be monitored and may be considered for selection later on during the series.
 
Lee’s main objective is to be fit and firing for the Ashes series in England later in the summer when he aims to renew his new ball partnership with Mitchell Johnson.

"I am really close," Lee said. "The main aim here is the Ashes, with all due respect to all other cricket. If I'm back to my best, which I hope to be doing, I don't see a problem at all.

“Hopefully, my ten-year-career will speak for itself, provided I am fit, of course.

"I'll be trying my best to be a team leader. Do I want to get back to that number one spot? Definitely. Yeah, I'm 32, but there's no reason why I can't bowl faster. I'm the fittest I've been in a long, long time, provided the ankle holds up,"