Lee's absence leaves Australia with a mjor seam bowling headache

Lee left the field during day two of the second Test against Zimbabwe and the injury was confirmed by a scan.

Lee will miss the forthcoming one-day series in India along with fellow pacemen Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath and batsman Darren Lehmann.

"I am anticipating a recovery period of at least four weeks," said team physio Errol Alcott.

It is the second time that Lee has picked up a significant injury while playing against Zimbabwe.

He injured his elbow while fielding in a one-day game in February 2001 and had to undergo surgery to repair the damage.

"I am bitterly disappointed. I've worked really hard on my fitness and have baiscally gone through the past three seasons unscathed, so to miss this tour now is a major blow," said Lee.

"I pretty much knew from my first ball on Saturday that something was wrong.

"There are times when I have stiffness and I can pretty much bowl through it - that's part and parcel of bowling - but this certainly felt worse.

Gillespie's side problem is the latest chapter in an injury-hit career

Gillespie was ruled out of the trip to India 24 hours earlier after being ruled out of the second Test against Zimbabwe because of a side injury.

"With the right rehabilitation I'm confident that I'll be available for the [home] Test series against India in December.

"It's not fair on anyone if I went on tour and wasn't 100% fit," he commented.

McGrath, meanwhile, is out of action after undergoing a second operation on his left ankle and will not play cricket again until mid-December.

The absence of all three leaves Andy Bichel as Australia's most experienced seam bowler.