Australian cricketer Brett Lee was in relatively good spirits today as he confirmed he and wife Liz had split.
"We have been caught by surprise as to how quickly our situation has become public," Lee said in a statement.
"It is with regret that I confirm today's media reports are correct and that Liz and I have decided to separate.
"Given the personal nature of the matter I ask that you please respect our privacy as we attempt to deal with this sensitive situation."
It's understood the glamor fast bowler was spending time with his parents and working out his next move.
Those close to Lee were adamant there was no third party involved in the split. It's believed the pair, who have a young son Preston, had drifted apart.
The split came as a shock to his Australian teammates who remember the couple having many loving embraces by the pool at the team hotel in Barbados on Australia's tour of the Caribbean in May.
The couple, who had their young son with them, appeared inseparable and went on a catamaran cruise off the coast of the island.
Lee has been given permission to miss the Australian team's training camp in Brisbane this week and the one-day series against Bangladesh in Darwin later this month in order to mentally regroup ahead of a long summer.
- JON PIERIK