Lee to play first one-dayer against New Zealand

Brett Lee: back in the side for Sunday's one-dayer © Getty Images

Brett Lee is all set to play his first match for Australia in more than two months. Lee will replace Glenn McGrath, who will be rested for the first one-day international against New Zealand in Melbourne on Sunday.

McGrath bowled 32 overs in hot conditions in Adelaide during the recently concluded second Test against New Zealand, and the short break should help him recover from those exertions. McGrath is currently with his family, and is expected to rejoin the squad for the second one-day international, at Sydney on Tuesday. Currently on 289 one-day wickets, McGrath is only two short of equalling Shane Warne as Australia's leading ODI wicket-taker.

Lee last played for Australia during the ICC Champions Trophy, when he was thrashed for 65 runs in 8.3 overs during their semi-final clash against England. However, he would have more pleasant memories of his last one-day international against New Zealand - in a World Cup Super Six match, Lee ran through their lower order, finishing with 5 for 42 as Australia romped to a 96-run win. With a Test match at Perth against Pakistan coming up, a strong performance by Lee will increase his chances of playing that match on a surface which usually provides plenty of assistance to fast bowlers.

Meanwhile, Stephen Fleming has expressed the hope that New Zealand will put their dismal Test displays behind up and come up with better performances in the three-match Chappell-Hadlee one-day series. "I think the [one-day] teams are closer due to the nature of the game and the personnel that come into our side," Fleming told ABC Sport. "Eighteen months ago I would have said it was the other way around, but our last 18 months has been pretty spectacular in one-day cricket so there is confidence within that camp." New Zealand have lost only two of their last 20 one-dayers, and will be bolstered by the return of Chris Cairns and Chris Harris.

However, Fleming emphasised that it was important for the team to learn from their mistakes in the Tests. "We don't want to forget about the Tests," he said. "I think if we don't learn from the times we get thumped then we're not smart, and we pride ourselves on being smart because we're challenged by depth of player and often skill of player. So we've got to be smart and if we just forget about the Test series and don't take any lessons into the one-dayers, then the exercise is a waste of time."