Lee's full fitness hope

Lee: Opportunity

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Brett Lee is putting a positive spin on a fourth ankle operation that threatens his participation in the Ashes.

The Australian paceman suffered another foot injury during the second Test against South Africa in Melbourne and will miss the upcoming three-Test series against the same opposition.

But the 32-year-old insists the surgery will give him the chance to recharge his batteries away from the glare of Test match cricket, and allow him to fully rehabilitate the injury in time for the big summer clash with England.

"It is an opportunity to spend a whole lot more time now, get away from cricket, get my fitness right, get my body right and look forward to a lot more cricket," he told Sky Sports.

"Things happen for a reason and I think it is more of a challenge and a chance to get my body right.

"I wasn't as strong as I probably should have been and I probably wasn't bowling the way I should have been.

Challenge

"But I am going to get through about a five to six week period and then re-assess after that.

"Get back into walking, get back into running, do all my fitness and make sure I am really really strong and get back to my 150 clicks again."

Lee insists he still has plenty to offer the team, which is lacking experience without its strike bowler.

"I have been through four of these (operations) now ... I know that I can overcome it and I am looking forward to the challenge," he added.

"I want to offer a few more years of cricket and I know that I can offer that.

"It is going to be a challenge, it is going to be hard work, there is no doubting that. But I know that if I do put my mind to it I do really want to come back and play for Australia."