Australia pace bowler Brett Lee has been ruled out of the upcoming tour of South Africa with a foot injury.
Lee will go under the knife on Saturday to have surgery on a nagging injury to his left foot and ankle.
And with the surgery expected to keep the 32-year-old sidelined for 10 weeks, Lee's manager Neil Maxwell confirmed he will not travel to South Africa for the three-Test series beginning on February 26.
"He doesn't have any intention of going to South Africa," Maxwell told AAP.
"He'll be getting everything right, just clearing up that floating bone in the ankle and letting the hot spot in his foot heal."
Lee and all-rounder Andrew Symonds limped out of the second Test defeat to South Africa in Melbourne on Tuesday, which led to Australia's first home series loss in 16 years.
Symonds suffered pain in his knee during the opening match in Perth but could recover from arthroscopic surgery in time to face the Proteas in the opening one-day internationals.
"Although there were some minor signs of wearing, the main problem was loose fragments of cartilage that were jamming in the joint, which were removed," the team doctor Trefor James said.
"We will monitor Andrew's progress in the coming weeks, but are hopeful he will become available for selection at some point during the series against South Africa or New Zealand."
Ben Hilfenhaus and Andrew McDonald have replaced Lee and Symonds in the squad for Saturday's third Test in Sydney.
