ADELAIDE: Spurned speedster Brett Lee will target next week's Chappell-Hadlee Trophy one-day series after again being named Australia's 12th man for the second test against New Zealand beginning in Adelaide today.
Lee has played just three first-class matches and one ING Cup (one-day) match since January.
The Chappell-Hadlee series is a potential springboard into the test team, where Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz have frozen him out.
The regular 12th man through the Indian and New Zealand series, Lee will also seek a meeting with Australian captain Ricky Ponting and chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns to clarify his position in the rotational policy proposed last week.
While an official policy is yet to be put in place by Cricket Australia, it is being discussed at the highest level as the world champions battle their way through nine tests in 13 weeks, along with up to a dozen one-day matches, then a six-week tour of New Zealand.
"I wouldn't have a problem with it at all," Gillespie said.
"I know myself it would be a hard thing to come to grips with being rested from a test match because it's never been done before and it's not the done thing. But there comes a time, with the travel and a lot of back-to-back test matches."
Lee's omission from the test line-up was expected following Australia's innings and 156-run annihilation of New Zealand in the first test in Brisbane last week.
Hohns' panel understandably selected the same line-up for the second test against the Black Caps, who are seeking their first test victory over Australia in 11 years.
"He (Lee) just can't force his way into the side at the moment," Ponting said.
"He'd obviously be fairly frustrated with the way his season is going at the moment .... but all the guys facing him in the nets yesterday realise he's getting back to bowling very quick again. He was hard work."