Lee could fly home for final

Brett Lee might miss out on a place for the second Test which starts on Friday, but there are suggestions he might rush home in time to appear for New South Wales against Queensland in the Pura Cup final which starts at Brisbane on the same day.

John Buchanan, Australia's coach, said that consideration was being given to allowing Lee - or Michael Kasprowicz, in the unlikley event that he were to miss out - to fly back for the game. He added that the idea would only be given serious thought were the player's state to make a formal request.

The time difference between Wellington and Brisbane is two-and-a-half hours, but the lack of available flights and problems with connections would mean that the player would miss most of the first day at The Gabba.

"In our planning at this stage, we want Brett and Brad [Hodge] to be ready to play the second Test, get the team selected and get the game started, and then let's have a look at it after that," Buchanan told reporters. "Queensland and NSW have to make those decisions first of all but our first consideration is the Test match obviously and having the players ready."

If Lee did fly back, it would be to play his first first-class match in almost four months, but New South Wales were less than impressed that the ball had been left in their court. "Why do we have to apply? We've made several requests during the year when Brett has been carrying the drinks," state selector Brian Taber said. "Why should we keep asking when all we get is a brick wall? Let's get fair dinkum and let common-sense prevail."

Queensland have already said they have no objection to Lee arriving late, but competition rules mean that, unless he was on the ground by the halfway point on the first day, he would not be able to bowl until the second morning.

Graham Dixon, Queensland's chief executive, said that "the underlying thing is we want players to play cricket and we should do our best to enable them to. Having a Brett Lee or a Michael Kasprowicz playing only adds to the Pura Cup final."

Cricket Australia remained tight-lipped, refusing to comment on what it said was a "hypothetical" situation.