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NEWS Cricket World Cup 2007>Brett Lee ruled out of World Cup 23rd Feb 2007 14.02 IST By Agencies Fast bowler Brett Lee has been ruled out of next month's World Cup with an ankle injury, Australian selectors said Friday, damaging the team's hopes of winning its third straight world title. Stuart Clark will take Lee's place in the 15-man squad for the March 13-April 28 tournament in the West Indies.
``However, it does give a tremendous opportunity for Stuart Clark to join the 15-man squad,'' Hilditch said. ``Stuart was extremely unlucky to miss out on initial selection and, despite the unfortunate circumstances surrounding his inclusion, we strongly believe that Stuart is primed to seize his opportunity.'' Australian team doctor Trefor James said Lee injured ligaments in his left ankle last week while training in New Zealand. ``Orthopedic surgeon Kim Slater ... has today advised me that the injury has not improved over the last week,'' James said. ``On that basis I have advised Cricket Australia that Brett will not be fit to resume bowling for two to three months.'' Lee is one of several top-line Australian players struggling with an injury and is the first to be officially ruled out of the world tournament. All-rounder Andrew Symonds has been named in Australia's squad despite an injured bicep that will sideline him in the early rounds of the tournament. Opening batsman Matthew Lawrence Hayden has a broken toe and middle order star Michael Clarke a hip injury, threatening their participation. ``Though Brett's injury is disappointing from a personal and team perspective, we strongly believe we are taking a squad of players more than capable of winning a third successive cricket World Cup,'' Hilditch said. Cricket Australia General Manager Michael Brown said he had written to the ICC requesting a replacement player for Lee. "Pending the ICC's advice on the replacement of Brett Lee, Stuart Clark is our nominated replacement in the squad of 15. I have today advised him that subject to ICC approval, I would expect him to be on the plane to the West Indies on Wednesday," Brown said. Team doctor James said he had been advised that Lee's injury has not improved over the last week. "On that basis I have advised Cricket Australia that Brett will not be fit to resume bowling for two to three months," James said in the statement. Lee ranks behind Glenn Donald McGrath and Shane Keith Warne as Australia's third all-time leading wicket-taker in one-day internationals with 267 wickets in 150 matches. Also View In-Depth Coverage: Cricket World Cup 2007 Team Page: Australia Team Page: West Indies | LIVE CRICKET COVERAGE NEWS ~ Gilchrist has no plans to retire after World Cup ~ Ganguly's new batting approach may cost him sixer record ~ India 'squash the Orange' in World Cup warm-up game ~ Symonds gets a new hairdo for World Cup ~ Dhoni readies himself for stand-up act at World Cup (more in NEWS) FACE-TO-FACE ~ 500-mark a possibility in World Cup: Hayden ~ Minnows add charm to World Cup: Dravid (more in FACE-TO-FACE) COLUMNS ~ Will Sri Lanka replicate 1996 World Cup success? (more in COLUMNS) OFF-THE-FIELD ~ Ganguly again the darling of corporate world ~ Ganguly roped in as brand ambassador of Puma (more in OFF-THE-FIELD) PLAYERS Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble (more PLAYERS) TEAMS India, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, West Indies, Zimbabwe, England, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Kenya, Holland | 
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