Buchanan orders rest before the Ashes

John Buchanan wants Australia's players - including Brett Lee - to rest before the Ashes in preparation for a gruelling 11-month touring schedule. Australia face six Test series and seven ODI competitions between June and April 2005 and Buchanan said a no-match rest before travelling to England was the best option.

"It's important that we recognise the period of time we've got coming up, and from the beginning of June we're virtually then playing, apart from very small windows, to the end of April," he said after the first day at Wellington was washed out. "The only way the players can at least physically and mentally gear themselves for that is to utilise April and May. Which means no playing, but just getting yourself physically and mentally right."

The comments are another blow for Lee as he desperately tries to get some first-class matches before the Ashes. Four English counties have shown interest in Lee but he will take up a lucrative short-term offer only if it is ticked by Cricket Australia. He was so upset with missing spots in both the Australia and New South Wales teams yesterday that he jokingly offered himself to local sides in Wellington.

Buchanan, who was concerned by Lee's lack of bowling, said there was little chance he would be a surprise change to Australia's line-up if rain delayed the match until Sunday. However, he said he didn't expect Australia would accept Stephen Fleming's offer to force a result if the poor weather stayed.

"I suspect if we could get somewhere around 300 overs in the game it still gives it a real opportunity for a result," Buchanan said. "We back our skills first before we wait on someone else making an offer to us."