Lee to miss first Ashes test

By John Mehaffey

CARDIFF (Reuters) - Australia fast bowler Brett Lee will miss the first Ashes test against England starting on Wednesday after tearing a muscle in his left rib area.

"I have sustained a small muscle tear which has ruled me out of the first test," Lee told a news conference at the team's hotel on Monday.

"I still see myself playing a major role for Australia through the end part of the series, whether that's the second, third, fourth or fifth test match depending on how things go."

Team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said a scan on Monday had revealed a muscle strain.

"It's not as bad as it could have been. It looks as if he's out of the first test, he's not out of Lord's but the chances are slim," Kountouris said.

Lee also indicated he did not expect to be fit in time for the second test at Lord's starting next Thursday.

"At this point at time it's possibly looking like two weeks before I can bowl again," he said.

The 32-year-old Lee, who has returned to the Australia side after undergoing a fifth ankle operation, was a certainty for the first test after ripping through the England Lions middle-order in a warmup match last week.