Worcester (UK), July 4 : Australia’s national cricket selection committee has admitted it may have mismanaged the veteran pacer Brett Lee after his difficult marriage break-up last year.

Selection committee chairman Andrew Hilditch now says that perhaps Lee should not have been sent to India last October with so little preparation as a result of his personal problems.

"The situation with Brett was extremely difficult, there is no doubt about that and in hindsight I think a lot of people would have handled that differently. But we are dealing with a 300-Test wicket bowler who came to India under-prepared for a lot of reasons unrelated to cricket and paid the price,'''' The Telegraph quoted Hilditch, as saying.

Hilditch was speaking after Lee revived Australia on the second day of the four-day match against a strong England second XI at Worcester, claiming 5-53 before revealing Australia''s secret plan to exploit reverse swing when the first Test begins in Cardiff on Wednesday.

Lee had seven bad Tests from the eight he played last summer before breaking down during the Boxing Day Test and having ankle surgery, which cost him the tour of South Africa.

In his absence a young and revitalised Australia surprisingly upset the home team in their conditions.

Lee had struggled to make an impact on this tour and his Test place was in doubt until his brilliant afternoon spell against the Lions. (ANI)