Lee rules himself out for Edgbaston

Brett Lee has conceded he will be unavailable for the third Test next week and is instead focusing on a potential return in the fourth Test at Leeds. Lee had hoped to recover from his side strain in time for the Edgbaston match, starting next Thursday, but the selectors chose not to rush him back and he will sit out of this weekend's tour match in Northampton.

"I'd be lying if I said I was available for the third Test because it's going to be very, very tight," Lee told the Australian. "I don't want to put the team in jeopardy because there is a chance something might happen. It's not a great outcome if I'm out there bowling and I tear it again."

Lee's delayed return will ease some of the immediate pressure on Mitchell Johnson, who has bowled poorly in the first two Tests. Lee picked up seven wickets in the match against the England Lions before being ruled out of the opening two Tests and he said his sights were now firmly set on the fourth Test at Headingley, starting on August 7.

"The way I'm looking now I'm focused on aiming for the fourth Test and making sure I'm right," Lee said. "Even if this is a three or four-week injury, that's three or four weeks before you start bowling. Then you've got your preparation time after that. A batsman can come straight back in and bat but a bowler has to build up their pace again.

"So I need a week and a half or two weeks to get myself ready. The way I've planned it is I hope to start bowling in the next day or two, which will leave me exactly two weeks of bowling to get up to full pace again. That is an ample amount of time to ensure I'll be available for the fourth Test."