SHANE Watson and Brett Lee today touch down in Sydney once again compromised by fragile bodies and contemplating cricketing mortality.

Watson’s left calf tear is Australia’s foremost concern and Cricket Australia wants more detailed MRI scans at home before plotting another rehabilitation for the injury prone vice-captain.



Australian coach Mickey Arthur is adamant an allrounder of Watson’s “immense value” is crucial to team balance but the 31-year-old’s body continues to fail even with minimal bowling workload. Watson, rated as highly by Arthur as Proteas stalwart Jacques Kallis, left the field after bowling one over in the eight-wicket loss to England at Durham on Saturday.



Next month’s bizarre limited overs ‘night tour’ against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, where games finish at 2am, is the last place Lee and Watson will be risked.



September’s Twenty20 World Cup will be the next port of call at best but Australian paceman Mitchell Johnson said it was premature to talk of retirement for Lee and a specialist batting role for downcast Watson.



“They were both disappointed, Shane in particular,” said Johnson with Watson missing the entire Test summer due to a calf tear incurred while recovering from a hamstring strained in South Africa last November.



The soft tissue leg issues of Watson’s early career are returning with increasing regularity on the wrong side of 30.



“I think he can still do an allrounder's job, and that's how he wants to play his cricket as well. I definitely think we need him in that role as well, for his experience,” said Johnson.



Lee was terribly inconvenienced breaking down during his second spell on Saturday. Any significant hiatus will make it hard for 35-year-old Lee to fend off younger rivals but Johnson backed “Binga” to beat father time once again.



"Brett's had a pretty good career through injuries, he hasn't had too many majors ones, but it's just a little one at the moment, and I'm sure he'll be back pretty quickly,” said Johnson of Lee who will remain stuck on 380 one-day wickets – behind Glenn McGrath’s 381 Australian record tally.



England assistant coach and former Test opener Graham Gooch said "there would be no let up" today at Old Trafford despite leading the series 3-0. Alastair Cook's side are hot on the scent of a 10th straight win.



Australia will elevate keeper Matthew Wade to open the innings with David Warner in Watson's absence. Left-armer's Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson will battle for the remaining spot in what is expected to be an all out pace attack flanking Ben Hilfenhaus, James Pattinson and Clint McKay.