Kasprowicz was clouted for 22 runs off the third-last over of the innings as the Kiwis stormed home to a four-wicket victory over the world champions with two balls to spare in Melbourne on Sunday.

Further pressure was applied on Kasprowicz after Test 12th man Brett Lee made an impressive international return in taking 2-40 heading into the first Test against Pakistan on the traditionally-quick WACA ground in Perth, starting on December 16.

Hohns said he was encouraged by Lee's performance but he did not blame Kasprowicz for the last-over loss, rather he praised the big Queenslander's 2004 form.

"Kasprowicz has been an outstanding performer over the last 12 months and he went for a few runs in one over in a one-day game and that can happen to anybody at any time," Hohns said Monday. "It was one over in a one-day game."

The 22-run over -- which featured two boundaries by Brendon McCullum, another from Hamish Marshall and a leg-side wide that went to the rope for five -- was the fourth most costly over by an Australian in one-day history.

Taking it away, Kasprowicz had 1-31 from eight otherwise tight overs.

"I'm not the first bowler to go for a few runs in a one-day game and certainly won't be the last. Unfortunately it happened at that point in time in the game," said Kasprowicz, who has been Australia's standout one-day bowler in 2004.

Since returning to Australia's team in Sri Lanka in February, he has taken 26 wickets at an average of 14.46 and economy rate of 3.67 per over.

"I'd like to think (I've) done a lot of good things over the last 12 months and it's only been six balls, and only a couple of those went really wrong," he said.

Lee will get another chance to impress on Wednesday when he is to bowl in tandem with Glenn McGrath and possibly also Jason Gillespie in the second Chappell-Hadlee match in Sydney.

"The most encouraging thing was the speed he bowled at and the control he had," Hohns said. "It was very encouraging and quite exciting to watch."

Kasprowicz, like McGrath and Gillespie were for Sunday's game, will be rested from the SCG encounter.

Hohns denied anything could be read into the decision, saying the 32-year-old Kasprowicz was always going to miss it to enable a four-day break before playing the third match in Brisbane on Friday.

Lee has only the two remaining one-dayers to edge himself ahead of Kasprowicz and break an 11-month Test drought.

"I think it's a good platform," Lee said. "If I can do well over the next two one-day matches hopefully I can be in Perth for the Test match.

"Definitely the pace was certainly back (last night) and the fitness is feeling really good."