Brett Lee challenge gives Brit TV personality Morgan broken rib!

What was intended to be a fun challenge, turned out to be an unmemorable one, with Piers Morgan ending up with a broken rib.

Last week, the British media personality had reportedly ''just about'' survived a lively pace attack from Australian legend Brett Lee during the tea break on day two of the fourth Ashes Test in the nets at the MCG after claiming that he can ''ruin a great Australian career and legend''.

Morgan was hit in the body by at least three deliveries although he tried to attack Lee.

It was the part of a challenge laid down by Lee after Morgan questioned the courage of England's batsmen in the face of an onslaught from Mitchell Johnson.

On Sunday, Lee was criticised by legendary New Zealand all-rounder for bringing the game into disrepute.

“I am so incensed I felt I needed to make comment,” Hadlee wrote in a column for Fairfax NZ News.

“I only hope that Brett takes a few minutes to reflect on his stupidity -- this was a brain explosion of the highest order; it was a deliberate attempt to hit, injure, hurt and maim his opponent that I viewed as a form of grievous bodily harm or a human assault that could have proved fatal.

“Morgan, aged 48, was hit four times on the body and if he was hit on the head or across the heart the result could have been devastating.”

Hadlee called on the International Cricket Council to fine or even suspend Lee, who plays for the Sydney Sixers, for damaging the image of the game and said the encounter should not have been aired on TV.

When Lee was asked to respond to Sir Hadlee’s column, he smiled and refused to comment over the episode.

However, Lee's manager Neil Maxwell said on Monday that if Lee had bowled half-heartedly at Morgan, who wanted the paceman to go full tilt, it would have been a farce.

"I think it was all good fun and great television," Maxwell said.