Lee to play Second XI cricket for Notts

The New South Wales and Australian quick bowler Brett Lee will warm up for this summer's Ashes battle by playing in a Second XI Championship match for Nottinghamshire.

After talks between John Buchanan, the Australian Coach, and Clive Rice, Notts Director of Cricket, it was agreed that Lee would play for the county's second string in a match against Hants Second XI, to be played at Finchampstead between 19-21 June.

Rice said: "It is not only an arrangement which will help Brett's match fitness but also an opportunity for some of our younger bowlers to play alongside, and learn from, one of the great fast bowlers in the world today."

Lee will then re-join the rest of the Australia tour party ahead of this summer's Test Series, which begins at Edgbaston on 5 July.