Brett Lee retires from international scene as one of our best
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Australia's Brett Lee celebrates with his team mates. AAP Image/Dean Lewins
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Australian fast bowler Brett Lee is retiring from international cricket, the right time to call it a day from a faithful servant.
The Australian cricket team is dire need of new blood and for new fast bowling talent to emerge.
This has happened to a degree in the past 12-18 months with Pat Cummins, James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc, but recent results have highlighted that we need more.
The ODI series against England has been the last straw for the 35-year old Lee, who has increasingly battled injury after injury. The finals straw appears to have been a calf strain.
But Lee can be proud of a fantastic career, particularly in the one-day arena. He played 221 matches for Australia and picked up 380 wickets at an average of 23.36. His best bowling figures were 5-22, economy was 4.77 an over and he could also bat a bit – scoring 1100 runs with a high score of 59.
The right-armer retires just one wicket shy of Glenn McGrath’s record for Australia of 381 scalps. Anyone who can bowl regularly at 150km per hour and over is a treasured weapon.
Lee made his Test debut back in 1999 against India at the MCG. It was a fabulous opening – he took a wicket in his first over when he took the wicket of Indian batsman Sadagoppan Ramesh.
He was part of a golden era of Australian cricket, one of the best teams we ever produced. Lee played 76 Tests, taking 310 wickets, with a bowling average of 30.82 and best figures of 5-30. His economy average was 3.48 an over and he scored 1451 runs with a high score of 64.
I can remember his long and outstanding stand under extra pressure against England in the second Test in 2005 at Edgbaston. The ability to tough it out with the bat was impressive. I was there in the stands when Kasprowicz was out and England won the Test. Lee was crestfallen and was embraced by Andrew Flintoff in what was a great and iconic sporting moment.
His pace, at his peak, was fearsome for batsmen. When Lee was fit and firing, he was a constant threat to the batters.
Lee won a World Cup in 2003 and boasted genuine world-beating pace at the height of his career. The NSW South Coast product was one of the last remnants of an extreme high point in Australian cricket, current captain Michael Clarke along with former captain Ricky Ponting are all that’s left of the famous Test team that featured the likes of Warne, McGrath, Gilchrist, Hayden, Langer, the Waughs and Slater.
Australian cricket fans will long remember the big, infectious smile and exhuberant celebrations when he snared a vital wicket.
It was one many brands and advertisers fought to get a piece of, as he became the good-looking blonde poster-boy of the sport down under. But apart from the constant battle for fitness, you could tell Lee really loved his cricket – thundering down the pitch or intimidating a batsman and celebrating with his Baggy Green clad mates.
Brett Lee has a lot to be proud of. An exceptional 17-year career with NSW, Kolkata, Wellington, the Sydney Sixers and Australia. It’s expected he will continue in the domestic Big Bash League – and why wouldn’t he after just taking out the Big Bash League with a Sixers win over the Perth Scorchers. This showed he still has something to over in the 20-over arena. But it’s not too early to say thanks Binga, and good luck with your career beyond cricket.
It’s official, I have retired from international cricket! Thanks for all your love and support. It’s been an amazing 13 years
— Brett Lee (@BrettLee_58) July 13, 2012
Twitter: @johnnyddavidson
July 13th 2012 @ 12:17pm
Dan said | July 13th 2012 @ 12:17pm | Report comment
Well bowled binga
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July 14th 2012 @ 3:03am
AndyMack said | July 14th 2012 @ 3:03am | Report comment
well said
July 13th 2012 @ 12:57pm
Dane25 said | July 13th 2012 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
Binga brought 110% back-breaking effort and desire to the national colours each and every time he played.
He put in like it was his last game with every occasion he took the field.
We’re gonna miss his endeavour, enthusiasm and tightly-styled blonde thatch!
July 13th 2012 @ 1:40pm
Tinea Pedis said | July 13th 2012 @ 1:40pm | Report comment
Ahh yes, the 2005 Ashes. When he was one of our best batsmen.
Will genuinely miss Binga.
Thanks for the memories.
July 13th 2012 @ 3:10pm
Will said | July 13th 2012 @ 3:10pm | Report comment
Lets not get carried away. Lee was a very valuable ODI bowler, mixing pace with movement.
However, in test cricket he was over-rated and too often bowled without rhythm or reason.
Had a decent period when he came into the side in 1999 and another during 2005/2006 but between that Brett Lee served up rubbish with the red ball.
Lets be honest.
July 13th 2012 @ 3:25pm
Dane25 said | July 13th 2012 @ 3:25pm | Report comment
Fair call.
In test cricket, he was a weapon of luxury behind an opening combo like McGrath and Gillespie, but when he had to shoulder the burden of being the spearhead he at times struggled.
In saying that, he could be relied upon for a solid burst of pace at any point in the day, making him a valued go-to man when a breakthrough was required. Not to mention, his unbreakable spirit and devotion to the cause was first class. It’s an example that a few of our current bowlers could and should follow today.
In ODI and T20 cricket though, he was one of the best for the majority of his career. You could always rely on him to knock over an opener with a blistering opening spell of great outswing, and his outfielding was always excellent. One of the first picked in a short form cricket World XI.
July 13th 2012 @ 3:49pm
Disco said | July 13th 2012 @ 3:49pm | Report comment
I agree with that critique. Really nice bloke, but his Test bowling was largely poor save for when he was first picked. A much better No.8 batsman than Johnson, however.
July 13th 2012 @ 3:35pm
Mango Jack said | July 13th 2012 @ 3:35pm | Report comment
He was one of a select group of bowlers who had a rythym and style you could watch all day. Like Lillee, Hadley, Donald, and a few others, his action flowed so well he bowling at 140+ kph look easy. I also sensed he really loved his cricket and mostly played it in right spirit, generally avoiding the ugly antics of some quicks. He will be missed.
July 13th 2012 @ 4:35pm
Winston said | July 13th 2012 @ 4:35pm | Report comment
A lot has been said over his career about his shortcomings. Now that he has retired I think we should all forget all of that and appreciate what he has put in and achieved. Fantastic bowler with fantastic results. Well done!
July 13th 2012 @ 4:39pm
Nev said | July 13th 2012 @ 4:39pm | Report comment
Will – 76 tests 310 wickets at an average of 31. And you say he served up rubbish with the red ball for the majority of his career. Don’t be a tool, not everyone can bowl like McGrath. Lee was clearly an outstanding cricketer.
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July 14th 2012 @ 3:29am
AndyMack said | July 14th 2012 @ 3:29am | Report comment
not a great return in test cricket. but handy.
his ODI form is outstanding. that is where his true value is found.
July 14th 2012 @ 7:53am
Disco said | July 14th 2012 @ 7:53am | Report comment
Lee was decent but I think the issue is that considering the momentous way Lee burst onto the scene – and in 1999 he was very, very good – his Test bowling petered out into disappointment. Subsequently, there were times when he his automatic Test selection flew in the face of the form he was showing and his intermittent obsession with pace and bounce over quality.
July 13th 2012 @ 6:00pm
Dan said | July 13th 2012 @ 6:00pm | Report comment
Well said nev!!
Get your hand off it Will!
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July 13th 2012 @ 9:04pm
mactheblack said | July 13th 2012 @ 9:04pm | Report comment
What unfair criticism dished up by Dane and that other chap Will whose remarks are not worthy of print. As the main article, reflects Lee bowled consistently fast and at express pace, which many bowlers of the present generation can’t do. He was getting batsmen standing back in their crease and doubting themselves, so other guys like ‘Pigeon’ could come in and finish them off. When you are bowling at that pace of course, the odd ball is going to fly off the bat – or a bouncer might fly over the wicketkeeper’s head to the boundary. His bowling of 310 wickets from 76 tests at the avg of 31 speaks of an out and out fast bowler who was consistent, despite his being prone to injury. Many countries would have done a lot to have a guy like Lee in their team – a committed soul who knows the value of the baggy green. I’m a South African and always admired the guy – and am crestfallen myself that his career has come to an end. There’s no bigger thrill than seeing a fast bowler steaming in to the wicket at express pace – to put the skids under a batsman. Hell of a nice guy too is Lee. You guys who are criticising Lee can’t be Aussies – surely can you?
July 14th 2012 @ 11:28am
Ross said | July 14th 2012 @ 11:28am | Report comment
Really mac you’re crestfallen over Brett Lee?? Good player and all but he’s the only fast bowler in test history with 300+ wickets and an average over 30. (Only Harbahjan and Vettori had worse averages in the 300 wicket club)
All other test quicks in that exclusive club have averages around the 22 – 25 mark. Too often, as fast as Binga bowled, the ball flew past him to the boundary just as quick.
July 14th 2012 @ 12:38am
DC of nz said | July 14th 2012 @ 12:38am | Report comment
Agree with all of this… He may not have had the Lillee Hadlee McGrath Steyn strike rate and average but as a Kiwi I can say that Binga always gave his all for Australia and he won a lot of one day matches for his country …
yes he was hit around at times but good fast bowlers can experience that on flat tracks .
So good on u Brett well played…
Oh last year he took an amazing diving catch in the big bash .. Not bad for a 34 year old .