Lee puts his hand up

Veteran speedster Brett Lee has put his hand up to lift Australia's flagging Ashes campaign after making a major breakthrough in his recovery from injury on Saturday.

While rain washed out play on day three of the third Test, Lee upped the ante inside Edgbaston's indoor nets in a late bid to return to the Australian side for the fourth Test starting next Friday in Headingley.

Lee, who resumed bowling in the past week albeit off only two or three steps, bowled above 50 percent pace for the first time since suffering a left side strain just days before the start of the first Test more than three weeks ago.

"I got up to 65, 70, maybe 80 percent on a couple of balls," Lee told CA TV.

Lee, 32, is aiming to hit full pace on Monday and said he was bowling without pain.

"It's been challenging to say the least but things are starting to fall into place now," he said.

"The body's starting to feel really good, I've got no pain there in the left rib region, I had a bowl today and look forward to doing a bit more tomorrow."

Australia is likely to still be trailing 1-0 heading into the fourth Test should rain continue to intervene at Edgbaston and would dearly love to have Lee's firepower at its disposal.

But the veteran's lack of recent match practice may count against him.

Lee, who starred in Australia's tour match against England's second XI in Worcester at the start of July, wanted selectors to take note of that performance when they sit down and pick the team for the next Test.

"I'm not worried about my form or the pace, hopefully I've proven that," he said.

"It's just a matter now of making sure the rib feels OK. It's feels good so far so we'll just see how it goes."

"I want to be going flat out by day five here so I've got two more days."

"I had a really good bowl today, go a little bit harder tomorrow then hard on the fifth day and hopefully be back by full pace then."

Lee has not worn the baggy green since undergoing ankle surgery after last summer's Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

The veteran, who has 310 Test wickets, was the only Australian bowler on tour with Ashes experience in England prior to this series.