Australia’s Brett Lee and Shane Watson both had their tour of England cut short by calf problems on Monday as they were ruled out of Tuesday’s fifth one-day international at Old Trafford. The duo, who suffered their injuries while bowling during a crushing eight-wicket defeat at Chester-le-Street on Saturday that gave England a series-clinching 3-0 lead in the five-match contest, are now due to fly home to Australia later Monday. Australia team doctor John Orchard said in a statement: “Shane Watson and Brett Lee have calf strains — Shane to the left and Brett to the right calf — sustained during the fourth ODI against England at Durham. “This is the opposite calf to the injury Shane had last (Australian) summer. Because both players will miss the final game, they are flying back to Sydney for MRI scans and further treatment. “At this stage, they are anticipated to be available for consideration for selection for the ICC World Twenty20 (in Sri Lanka starting in September), with scan results and response to treatment to determine whether they will be available for consideration for selection for the coming series against Pakistan in the UAE (United Arab Emirates).” Lee, who went off two balls into his second spell on Saturday, and Watson, who managed just the one over, joined teenage paceman Pat Cummins (side strain) in returning home early from the tour, while left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson did not play at Chester-le-Street because of soreness in his right foot.
