SYDNEY, Feb 22: Concerned by Australia's ineffective bowling in the recent 3-0 series loss in New Zealand, Cricket Australia (CA) will give injured Brett Lee until early next week to prove his fitness, reports said on Thursday.

Lee, who damaged ankle ligaments just before the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series, was initially to have a second round of scans on Friday, but such is CA's desire to take him to the World Cup that the paceman will be tested on Tuesday, The Sydney Morning Herald said.

It is unlikely that pace spearhead Lee will be fit to play in the Caribbean, but after Australia’s poor showings against the Kiwis, the selectors are keen to give him every chance to make the trip, the newspaper added.

Given the severity of Lee's injury, and the fact that Australia have already selected injured Andrew Symonds in their 15-man World Cup squad, it was initially felt Lee would be ruled out of the tournament.

Stuart Clark is understood to be the likely replacement, should Lee be unable to compete in the World Cup.

Lee has been working with Cricket NSW physiotherapist Pat Farhart, and is now said to be walking without the assistance of a surgical boot, the Herald added.

Farhart declined to comment to the newspaper on Lee's progress, other than to say: “He seems to be going OK, but we're just taking it a session at a time.”

Australian team physio Alex Kountouris believes Hayden will be available for the entire World Cup, despite initial fears that the fractured toe, sustained during Tuesday's last Chappell-Hadlee game, would limit his campaign in the Caribbean. “The specialist informs us that the fracture appears to be stable,” Kountouris said. “We're pretty hopeful.”—AFP