BRETT Lee indicated the stress of his testing summer when he showed no emotion after bowling Indian Yuvraj Singh yesterday.
No leap in the air, no fist-pumping and none of the trademark chainsaw celebration that has followed most of his wickets. Instead, Lee walked back to the umpire, grabbed his hat and headed to his fielding position.
Whether it's Lee's last international spell for the summer will be determined today when selectors review the Australian squad.
Left-armer Nathan Bracken has recovered from a hip injury and would be likely to return because of his skill with the white ball and record against India. It is not known who he would replace.
But Lee is bowling without the confidence and direction that made him the hitman of an Australian attack behind the miserly work of Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Shane Warne. And it has made for a disastrous summer.
Lee missed the opening two Tests because of injury before returning on Boxing Day to bowl the first of 37 no-balls in the final two matches.
He has the January double - a painful 4-201 in the first innings of the Sydney Test and yesterday's reminder that he is no longer a feared Indian foe
.But perhaps Lee simply needs a short break from international cricket - an old-fashioned bowling tune-up back with NSW.
He can regain his rhythm, which is the key to his pace, and regain his confidence.
Then hopefully Ricky Ponting can include him in his Sri Lankan arsenal, with McGrath back from injury, to give Australia their best chance to win on a difficult tour.