London, July 24: Fearing a rushed comeback might lead to yet another breakdown, Australia's injury-ravaged pacer Brett Lee has ruled himself out of the third Ashes Test in Edgbaston and is instead eyeing a return in the next match at Leeds.

Recuperating from a side strain, the 32-year-old has already been left out of the Australian squad for a three-day practice match against Northamptonshire.

"I'd be lying if I said I was available for the third Test because it's going to be very, very tight. I don't want to put the team in jeopardy because there is a chance something might happen," Lee said.

"It's not a great outcome if I'm out there bowling and I tear it again. It would leave the team short and wreck my chances of finishing the Ashes tour," he was quoted as saying by the Australian.

Instead, Lee said he was now aiming to recuperate in time for the fourth Test of the series. "You could be out for 10 to 12 weeks. The way I'm looking now I'm focused on aiming for the fourth Test and making sure I'm right.

"A batsman can come straight back in and bat but a bowler has to build up their pace again. So I need a week and a half or two weeks to get myself ready," he explained.

The express bowler said he would start bowling again in the next couple of days to get his pace back.

"The way I've planned it is I hope to start bowling in the next day or two, which will leave me exactly two weeks of bowling to get up to full pace again," Lee said.

Lee said the injury layoff has been frustrating. "I was absolutely gutted before the first Test the way I had done my rehab, the way that I'd prepared, all the training I did back home before we came away," Lee said.

"To think it's just my second torn muscle in 17 or 18 years of cricket. Yes, it's a setback but in 10 or 12 years of international cricket I'll look back and this will be a very small blip on the radar," he added. - AFP