Australia suffered a new setback 48 hours before the first day of the Ashes when Brett Lee, their in-form, bristling and experienced fast bowler, was ruled out of the first two Tests with a rib injury.
The news was such a shock that at first I wondered if the trip to London for a scan was a ploy put together to wrong-foot England; but the news that drifted back to Cardiff was much worse than his six-wicket performance against England Lions at Worcester last week suggested.
Lee is a sunny cricketer and far from the single-minded, inward-looking character like so many of his calling. He has always been interested in the rest of the world and relaxes on long tours, home and abroad, by singing to his own guitar and playing in small groups. The England players were shaken enough by the ruling to send good wishes by way of his special mate Kevin Pietersen.
This is another hammer blow to the Australian side already rebuilding after the retirement of so many stars, with Ricky Ponting criticised at home and lacking runs in this tour and with doubts about the quality of their spin attack.
Ricky Ponting may go into the match with one of the weakest attacks of his 56 Tests as captain, a figure which takes him level with Steve Waugh. Lee's absence will give him an excuse, if he needs it, not to ask England to bat.
He last put a side in at Edgbaston in 2005 when his plot went disastrously wrong because Glenn McGrath was injured just before play began. Ponting has not dared try the same trick again.
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