Australian fast bowler Brett Lee has knocked back a contract offer from New South Wales.

The veteran paceman, who is on Australia’s limited-overs tour of England, says he has decided not to accept the contract offer to allow a younger player to receive a deal.

Lee says under the new structure of national contracts, it would not be fair to accept a NSW deal, given the likelihood he would only be available for a handful of one-day matches for the Blues.

The 35-year-old says he isn’t retiring though and will remain available to NSW on a match-by-match basis.

“I truly appreciate Cricket New South Wales’ offer but, given the unique position I find myself in under the new contracting model, it makes sense to give this opportunity to a young player,” Lee said in a statement on Wednesday.

“I am still very much focused on earning a CA (Cricket Australia) contract over the next two months and will continue to help Cricket New South Wales, where I can, this season.”

Lee, just one wicket behind Glenn McGrath’s record of 380 one-day international wickets for Australia, was not included in the list of 17 contracted players announced by the national body last week.

But under the new Memorandum of Understanding between CA and the Australian Cricketers’ Association, a player who earns 12 points through national representation after June 30 receives a $190,000 retainer.

Under the new deal, Lee would qualify for the retainer if he plays more than six ODIs or 12 T20s.