Lee 'hungrier than ever' after missing Ashes

Brett Lee is confident he has plenty of cricket left in him despite not making Australia's team for any of the Ashes Tests. Lee has made a strong comeback in the limited-overs matches after a side strain and then a settled pace attack scuppered his Ashes hopes.

Lee had been favoured to play the first Test in Cardiff after picking up seven wickets in the tour match in Worcester but the injury sidelined him for the first four Tests. He said he was frustrated to have been ruled out for the fourth Test at Headingley, where he felt he was 100% fit.

"It was very disappointing," Lee said in the Times. "I'd worked extremely hard after I got injured in the Boxing Day Test and it felt really good in that Worcester match, then I fell at the last hurdle. I've only had two muscle tears in 20 years of cricket and that fell at the wrong time.

"I gave myself every opportunity to return during the Ashes. I know when I'm right to go and I was 100% fit at Headingley, but people thought otherwise. I've dealt with it now, it's behind me and I've not taken any ill feeling about it."

During the one-dayers, Lee has shown that at his best he is still a major weapon, having picked up 2 for 22 from a fast and hostile 8.1 overs in the victory at Lord's. Lee will be 33 by the time Australia's home summer begins and he is keen to prove that he can remain a force at international level.

"Any chance I get to play cricket, I always try to play my best," he said. "I'm hungrier than ever. In fact I'm starving. I still get excited when I take wickets and if I'm still getting that buzz I'll keep playing."