Brett Lee to undergo ankle surgery

Cricket Australia today announced that Australian fast-bowler Brett Lee will undergo surgery to his left ankle at St Vincent's Private Hospital in Sydney this afternoon.

Lee, who was forced out of the Travelex One-Day International Tour of India with a strained stomach muscle, will use the break to also correct an ongoing posterior impingement problem.

The elective surgery, to be performed by leading orthopedic surgeon Dr Martin Sullivan, will relieve Lee from pain in the back of his ankle, a condition which commonly affects fast-bowlers.

Australia team physiotherapist Errol Alcott said Lee had been troubled by the condition for some time.

"Due to the increased workload during the first 3 Test match against Zimbabwe in Perth, Brett felt pain in his ankle that he has had on and off during the past season," he said.

"With the injury to his stomach muscle we were presented with a window of opportunity to also correct this problem while Brett takes a break from competition.

"Brett will be reviewed again towards the end of November following an intensive rehabilitation program."