Fate has smiled on Brett Lee with his first child arriving a week before the first Ashes Test. Lee's wife Liz gave birth to Preston Charles at 3.30am yesterday.
Mother and son were doing well. Liz was originally due next Wednesday -- the day before the start of the first Test at the Gabba -- so the early arrival will allow the fast bowler to spend time in Sydney with his wife and new son before he leaves for the team camp tomorrow.
The Lees had already decided Brett would play in the Test even if he had to miss the birth, so the arrival was perfectly timed. The couple married this year after Brett proposed during Australia's tour of South Africa in March-April.
Australian coach John Buchanan said the news was great on all fronts. "From Brett's point of view it's great news because Liz and the baby are doing well and the timing was perfect," he said.