Graphic: The top 100 Ashes legends part one: 100-71

Brett Lee denied that Australia have suffered another “Glenn McGrath moment” after the fast bowler was ruled out of the first npower Test that starts in Cardiff tomorrow.

Lee was also described as a serious doubt for the second game at Lord’s, starting on Thursday week, after a scan in London confirmed that he strained an abdominal muscle during the warm-up match against Worcestershire last week, when he took six first-innings wickets to apparently confirm his place for the start of the Ashes.

Four years ago, the series turned when McGrath twisted his ankle on a stray cricket ball before the start of the second Test at Edgbaston, allowing England to exploit a weakness in the bowling attack, post more than 400 and go on to win the match.

Lee, on his third Ashes tour, has replaced McGrath as the senior member of the Australia pace attack and looked in ominous form at Worcester, generating significant reverse swing at speeds in excess of 90mph.

“Playing for Australia is the most amazing thing, but the Ashes is what it is all about so I am very, very disappointed,” Lee said. “I will find a way to bounce back.

“Normally I would have played through it but with the long series I didn’t want to jeopardise things for the team. Losing Glenn that time was not great, but I hope this time the guys can leave Cardiff 1-0 up.”

Kevin Pietersen described Lee’s absence as “a huge, huge, huge loss” for Australia. “He is an amazing bowler and a fantastic competitor who intimidates batsmen with his pace,” the England batsman said. “It is sad. I am a good mate of his and he is a nice, nice man. Nobody likes injuries.”

For all that magnanimity, and the fact that Lee was absent through ankle trouble when Australia won a three-match series in South Africa this year, England will secretly feel that their task of taking an early lead has become easier.

Alex Kontouris, the Australia physiotherapist, said: “It could have been a lot worse. We’ll monitor it over the next two weeks. He is not out of Lord’s but his chances are slim.”

Lee hopes to be able to run again in two days, and Australia are not considering calling up a replacement at this stage. Next in line is Doug Bollinger, at present playing for Australia A against Pakistan A.

National anthems of Wales and Australia as well as God Save the Queen and Jerusalem will be sung before the start of play tomorrow, in part to mark the first Test at the SWALEC Stadium. The ECB said that no decision has been made on whether anthems will become part of the regular first-day build-up during the series.

Paul Russell, the Glamorgan chairman, expressed every faith in the pitch in Cardiff and the new drainage system laid during the winter, despite difficulties with both this season.

Heavy showers hit the city yesterday, but Russell said: “Although we had a huge downpour, you could have played cricket out there ten minutes later. And I am confident about the pitch.”