Lions batsman Stephen Moore had threatened to dominate the second day with a century on his home ground during an opening stand of 172 with Joe Denly in reply to the tourists' first innings total of 358.

But Lee altered the complexion of the game with a five-wicket burst – including Moore for 120 -– as he bowled with great accuracy and sustained hostility.

The 31-year-old has not played a Test since facing South Africa in Melbourne in December after undergoing ankle surgery and Mitchell Johnson has effectively replaced him as Australia's number one strike bowler.

Lee went into the current four-day clash at Worcester not guaranteed to start the opening Test in Cardiff next Wednesday and vying for a place with fellow paceman Stuart Clark and spinner Nathan Hauritz. But he showed he can still be a force to be reckoned with as Denly, Ian Bell, Vikram Solanki, Moore and Eoin Morgan were all dismissed in a deadly seven-over spell.

Lions captain Bell would have been the most disappointed, trapped leg before for a first-ball duck.

Worcestershire wicket-keeper Steven Davies and Yorkshire spinner Adil Rashid redressed the balance with a sixth-wicket stand of 86.

Davies made 53 with seven fours before he edged part-time spinner Marcus North to Michael Clark at slip but Rashid finished unbeaten on 36 out of 302-6 from 81 overs.

The Lions had needed only 6.4 overs to polish off the final two wickets of the Australian first innings on a scorching morning.

Mike Hussey, who had resumed on 143 not out, brought up his 150 with a cover drive for two off Graham Onions but it was to be his last scoring shot.

Steve Harmison ended Hussey's 234-ball innings when he bowled the left hander with a delivery of fullish length.

Last man Clark quickly moved into double figures with ten runs off the remaining five balls of Harmison's over.

Hauritz resisted more than ann hour for 11 before he attempted to pull Onions and sliced a catch to Denly at point.

Harmison finished with 4-80 from 25 overs and Onions 3-70 from 23.4 overs.