Australian fast bowler Brett Lee claimed he could have gone blind in one eye had an infection in his nose spread.
Skipper Ricky Ponting yesterday revealed Lee had told him about the frightening and potentially career-ending circumstances which confronted Lee during his two-day stint in hospital in May.
Lee had an infected left nasal passage at the time but it was eventually cleared with antibiotics, allowing him to take his place on the Ashes tour.
The speedster yesterday had overgrown tissue removed from the same passage after experiencing difficulty breathing, and will be fit to take his place in the first Test against South Africa, starting on Friday at the WACA Ground in Perth.
Ponting relayed the story when asked whether his spearhead would have stayed in New Zealand for today's final Chappell-Hadlee one-day match had the series been deadlocked.
"I don't think so," Ponting said. "It's a pretty serious health thing for Brett.
"He had it last year where a similar sort of thing in his nose got really infected and went up into his eye.
"The doctor at the time told him it was possible he could have lost his sight in his eye.
"So he wanted to get himself back to 100 per cent as soon as he possibly could have."
Lee's manager Neil Maxwell yesterday backed Lee's stunning claim.
"It had the potential to do that," Maxwell said. "He was in hospital for two days. The antibiotics cleared up the boil."
Australian team physiotherapist Errol Alcott said the two procedures were not related.
While Lee recovers from the latest procedure, his replacement – Queenslander Mitchell Johnson – will make his one-day international debut at Jade Stadium.
Victorian spinner Cameron White will be given his first full game in what will be a no-name Australian attack.
Johnson arrived in Christchurch at 2am yesterday and was at training eight hours later. He will be Ponting's super sub, but whether Australia bats or bowls first may determine how much of an impact he has.
Australia generally prefers to bat first in one-day matches but dewy conditions are expected tonight, meaning it may be easier to chase a total than deal with a wet ball.
"The way that New Zealand has looked like they've wanted to play their cricket the last few games is to bowl first," Ponting said.
"If that's the case, then Mitchell will probably play a pretty big role in the game, bowling in the second innings.
"There's an opportunity there for Cameron White.
"He's played three or four games now and only bowled three or four overs.
"So we're hoping to give both those guys a bit of exposure at the highest level."
Johnson had said he had been nervous bowling to Ponting in an ING Cup match earlier this summer, but feels he won't suffer from stage fright today.
"I have played against a few of the New Zealanders before in Queensland, had a few games there so I know what they are like," Johnson said.
"Hopefully I am not too nervous and go out there and have fun."
Ponting said the tourists would keep the foot to the floor despite already having won the series.
- JON PIERIK