SYDNEY: Fast bowler Brett Lee has been forced to return home from Australia's seven-match limited-overs tour of India with an elbow injury, Cricket Australia said on Saturday.

Lee suffered an elbow strain during the first match of the series at Vadodara and was optimistic of recovering for some late matches on the tour. But he was reported to be still experiencing pain at a training session on Friday.

"Brett's elbow injury has not responded as well to treatment as we would have liked and therefore a decision has been made to send him home to consult with an elbow specialist," team physiotherapist Kevin Sims said.

The third match in the series, which is level at 1-1, will be played on Saturday.

Australian selectors have not decided on a replacement. Lee is the second player to be sent home from the tour after wicketkeeper Tim Payne fractured a finger in Nagpur.