VETERAN Australia paceman Brett Lee has conceded he may never play for his country again as he battles to recover from elbow surgery.
The 33-year-old underwent an operation on what he has described as the most painful injury of his career in December, which has sidelined him for the entire Australian summer.
“As far as my cricket goes, anything is possible – I may play one-dayers, or no cricket at all,” he told the Herald Sun. “I may never bowl another ball and if that’s the case, I’m so satisfied with my career and my longevity. I’m not saying it’s definitely over, but I’m not sure what I want to be just yet.”
He added: “To be perfectly honest, I’m not sure what I still want to do in my cricketing life. I need to get to the stage where, if I want to, I can do what I need to do on the field.
“If it’s the case that I don’t play again, well, that’s the case. There is a part of me that would like to play some sort of cricket again.”
Lee has suffered his fair share of injuries during his impressive career, but admitted his current complaint had been the most painful to endure.
And with no timescale yet on when he will be ready to return to bowling, let alone the playing field, Lee is prepared for a slow rehabilitation.
“This has been the hardest surgery I’ve been through. It’s certainly been the most painful,” said Lee.
“There’s no miracle treatment for me. It’s taking time. I still don’t know when I’ll be able to bowl again. I can’t even give you an exact time.
“I will see how the arm pulls up because I can’t achieve any aspirations in cricket unless my body is functional. It just takes time really. It’s something I can’t rush.” (Eurosport)