Sydney, Aug.21 : Australian fast bowler Brett Lee has confirmed that he has separated from his wife Liz.

"It is with regret that I confirm today's media reports are correct and that Liz and I have decided to separate. Given the personal nature of the matter, I ask that you please respect our privacy as we attempt to deal with this sensitive situation,'' news.com.au quoted Lee, as saying.

It's understood the glamor fast bowler was spending time with his parents and working out his next move.

It's believed the pair, who have a young son Preston, had drifted apart.

The split has shocked his Australian teammates who remember the couple having many loving embraces by the pool at the team hotel in Barbados on Australia's tour of the Caribbean in May.

They even enjoyed a catamaran cruise off the coast of the island.

Lee has been given permission to miss the Australian team's training camp in Brisbane this week and the one-day series against Bangladesh in Darwin later this month in order to mentally regroup ahead of a long summer.

ANI