Lillee urges Lee to play county cricket

Dennis Lillee: 'It's an amazing luxury to have Brett up their sleeve' © Getty Images

Dennis Lillee has expressed his disappointment over Brett Lee's omission from the first Test against New Zealand, and has recommended he play county cricket ahead of the Ashes.

"It is a frustrating time for Brett but there's nothing he can do about it because those other great fast bowlers are all performing well," Lillee told the Sydney Morning Herald. "Malcolm Marshall had to wait a long time to get a crack at it, waiting behind four great West Indian quicks. From the point of view of the Australian team, it's an amazing luxury to have Brett up their sleeve."

Lee, who hasn't played a Test for 14 months, has been approached by Worcestershire, Surrey, Leicestershire and Middlesex, but Cricket Australia has advised him not to accept a contract to prevent fatigue ahead of the Ashes. Lillee urged Lee to take up an offer. "It can only help him," Lillee said. "It's a different set of circumstances now because he is underbowled at first-class level. It would do him the world of good."

Lee was disappointed at being made 12th man after devastating the New Zealand batsmen in the five-match one-day series with deliveries crossing 160kph. "Each time a problem has come up throughout my career I've managed to find a solution," Lee said. "This time around I don't have any straightforward answers. I'm really disappointed."

"All I can do now is try and go away and work even harder to do whatever it takes, whatever that may be, to force my way back into the Test side. I love playing one-day cricket for Australia but Test cricket is the ultimate, and it's my burning desire to get back," Lee said. "So far, I've done what's been asked of me - get my ankle right, get my speed back and take wickets. So with the ankle now fine, all I can do is take even more wickets and push the speed gun even further."