Lee ruled out of WC
	New Delhi:In a massive setback to the Australian cricket team, paceman Brett Lee has been ruled out of the 2007 World Cup. Stuart Clark will take Lee's place in the 15-man squad for the March 13-April 28 tournament in the West Indies. On Friday, Andrew Hilditch, Chairman of Australia's National Selection Panel, said that Lee's ankle injury is more serious than first expected and that the team's medical staff has advised that he will be unavailable for the World Cup. "It is a great disappointment for Brett Lee that he is unable to take his place in the cricket World Cup, and it is a significant blow for the planning and preparation in place for the tournament," selection chairman Andrew Hilditch said. "However, it does give a tremendous opportunity for Stuart Clark to join the 15-man squad," Hilditch said. Lee injured ligaments in his left ankle during a practice session before the Chappell-Hadlee series against New Zealand. Lee is one of several top-line Australian players struggling with an injury and is the first to be officially ruled out of the world tournament. All-rounder Andrew Symonds has been named in Australia's squad despite an injured bicep that will sideline him in the early rounds of the tournament. Opening batsman Matthew Hayden has a broken toe and middle order star Michael Clarke a hip injury, threatening their participation. Michael Brown, Cricket Australia's general manager of cricket operations, said he had informed the International Cricket Council of Lee's injury and requested permission to name Clark as his replacement. (With AP inputs)