Melbourne: Injury-ravaged Australia heaved a sigh of relief with pacer Brett Lee expected to resume bowling next week and wicket-keeper Tim Paine escaping a surgery on his fractured ring finger. Cricket Australia today said that Lee's elbow injury, sustained during the first ODI against India at Vadodara, was not serious and he can be back to the groove next week.
Paine, who fractured his ring finger, is expected to start his training in three weeks time, just before the West Indies tour of Australia.
"Brett has seen a specialist and CA medical staff in Melbourne. He had a scan that confirmed the cause of the pain as being a long standing bone spur near the elbow joint," Cricket Australia physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said.
"It is felt there is no major problem with the joint and we are optimistic that he may be able to resume bowling fairly soon, possibly some time next week. "Tim Paine saw a hand specialist in Melbourne today and Tim doesn't require surgery to the fractured ring finger of his left hand. He will recommence cricket training in approximately three weeks time," he added.
Vice-captain Michael Clarke, who missed the seven-match ODI series in India due to a back injury, is also expected to be fit for the first Test against West Indies at home. "Michael is making good progress and it's hoped he'll play for New South Wales before the first Test against the West Indies," Kountouris said.
