By Oliver Brett

Australia's troubled World Cup preparations plunged to a new low with news that Brett Lee's injured ankle had ruled him out of the tournament.

For months, the Aussies were threatening to turn the event into a one-sided affair as they looked to secure a third successive title.

Stuart Clark was the leading wicket-taker in the Ashes series

But Ed Joyce's century in Sydney for England stopped the bandwagon in its tracks and six defeats in seven matches have been the result, along with an injury list that has kept team doctor Trefor James fully occupied.

But Australia, who remain favourites - albeit with South Africa breathing down their necks - have no time to complain; the planning must go on regardless.

If they could wind back the clock 25 years, Terry Alderman's brand of accurate swing bowling would be just the tonic to fill the gap left by Lee's absence.

His playing days long over, the Western Australian told BBC Sport that Ricky Ponting's side were sure to miss the world's sixth-best bowler in one-day cricket.

He went on: "When I heard him do the actual injury I thought it was going to be something serious because I had a similar injury occur to me which kept me out of the game for 12 months."

Alderman disagrees that the tour to New Zealand, where Lee got injured after a long summer's cricket in Australia, should not have been have scheduled.

Instead, like any Australian cricket fan worth his salt, he remains optimistic, and sees Lee's replacement in the squad, Stuart Clark as a bowler to watch in the West Indies.

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"I was a little bit unhappy that [Clark] wasn't picked initially," said Alderman.

"He was the form player for Australia in the Ashes, a line-and-length bowler who was a little bit expensive in the one-day series afterwards but he's someone who knows where the ball is going."

The same cannot be said for Clark's main rival for a starting berth, Shaun Tait.

"Tait is explosive and very fast but doesn't have the same consistency that Clark offers.

"Clark has been accused of being too much like Glenn McGrath but I wouldn't mind having five Glenn McGraths in my side."

Lee's injury allows the 37-year-old McGrath to share new-ball duties with Nathan Bracken, something Alderman feels he will relish.

"McGrath knocked over some big wickets in the ICC Champions Trophy and that was not that long ago.

"It will give him added confidence to be given the new ball."

Veteran Glenn McGrath will prefer bowling with the new ball

There will also be an onus on all-rounder Shane Watson to deliver the goods.

Alderman says of the Queenslander: "We've got to maybe calm down all the hype and all the chat about him.

"He seems a very emotional sort of a bloke when he's out on the field but he needs to relax, not have too much pressure put on him.

"There's been talk that maybe he should open the batting, and maybe that's not a bad thing."

There is enough strength in numbers in the Australia squad, but what is the quality like?

Left-arm seamer Mitchell Johnson has only impressed Alderman once, when the 50-year-old watched him work Kevin Pietersen over in the Champions Trophy.

"He shook him up with a couple of deliveries and then had him caught behind with a very fast ball.

"He's capable of taking big wickets but was very expensive in New Zealand."

Despite the february nightmare endured by Australia, Alderman remains positive the World Cup can be theirs.

"Australia put so much effort into the Ashes campaign. Every ounce of energy, every bit of emotion was put into it.

"The let-down after that has been felt by the tri-series defeat by England and the poor performances in New Zealand.

"But don't write us off. I'm hoping we are going in with a little tinge of under-doggedness about us."

Australia the underdog? How times have changed.