One of the world’s fastest bowlers who made India his second home, Australia’s Brett Lee today announced his retirement from international cricket ending an injury-ravaged career that spanned 13 years.
The 35-year-old affable pacer, who retired from Test cricket in 2010, had been most recently laid low by a calf injury.
Lee, a part-time bass guitarist who enjoys a huge fan-base in India, said he could not carry on anymore given the suffering his body has endured.
“It has been a dream career, I guess, 13 years at the top. I couldn’t ask for much more,” Lee told ‘Channel Nine’
Lee said he had initially planned to retire after the upcoming World Twenty20 tournament in Sri Lanka.
“Thirteen years, Friday the 13th, it’s appropriate for me to go. I woke up this morning after not much sleep and it’s the right time to go. It just came to me this morning and I just felt it’s the right time to leave the game. It’s been in the back of my mind for a few months.”
Lee said he was happy to have played “in a fantastic era, playing with the likes of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Adam Gilchrist, Steve and Mark Waugh, heroes of mine growing up“.
“It’s now stage two of my life coming up so I’m pretty happy and pretty excited. My holiday will be at home, I’m sick of being away.”
The paceman retired from Test cricket in February 2010 after taking 310 wickets in 76 matches.
He continued playing for Australia in one-day matches and in the Twenty20 arena. International retirement notwithstanding, Lee will continue playing in the Australian Big Bash and Indian Premier league.
Rated among the most fearsome fast bowlers in modern era, the ever-smiling six-footer took 380 wickets in 221 one-day internationals and 28 wickets from 25 Twenty20 appearances for Australia.
Interestingly his Test career began against India, a country he frequents for reasons beyond cricket.
It was a sensational debut in 1999 as Lee grabbed seven wickets - five in the first innings itself to announce his arrival at the international stage.
But the promise he held out at the start of his career was hampered by frustrating injury breakdowns. The speedster underwent as many as four surgeries on his right ankle itself besides enduring shoulder problems.
However, that didn’t affect his commercial appeal either in Australia or India, where he collaborated with the legendary Asha Bhonsle for a hit song and made a cameo appearance as himself in a Bollywood movie.
He was a member of the 2003 World Cup-winning team in South Africa but missed the next edition in the West Indies due to an ankle injury.
“I look back to when I was 19, and while I hope (my injuries) never happen to anyone else, it’s a fact that when you bowl fast injuries happen,” he has said.
“You have to deal with it and you have to learn from what’s happened because it makes you a stronger person. I have a saying ‘if you’re not living on the edge you’re taking up too much space’ - it means have a crack.”
Lee’s decision to retire leaves him just one wicket shy of Glenn McGrath’s Australian record of 381 ODI scalps.
In fact, In nine Tests following McGrath’s departure, Lee clinched 58 wickets at 21.55 and also won the Allan Border Medal in 2008.
Keywords: Brett Lee, Retirement, calf-injury, Glenn McGrath, Allan Border Medal
All pace bowlers are prone to injures and Bret Lee was no exception. With a very busy schedule it is difficult for cricketers of present generation to avoid injuries. We must appreciate Bret Lee for what he has achieved in his career as an international cricketer. My best wishes to him for a contented life after retirement!
Debut in 1999 and awesome figures indicating his fluency and smartness
in the game of most competitive game has decided fast to take retirement
and bid adieu makes cricket lovers sad.True too much travel and stress
takes away the charm,otherwise a person of his nature.Ever smiling and
ever roaring for a wicket will not be seen in his yellow robes
representing for Kangaroos will always be felt. we miss you Mr Lee.As a
lover of India we wish to see you as often as possible visiting our
nation and makes us happy.
your decision is ok but we are feeling bad to miss u on the field bret lee........all d bst for ur future
Blonde bombshell Brett Lee, the mega-pacer batting horror over 13 years on the international cricketing turf, finally decides to hang his boots on Friday. He retired from Test cricket in February, 2010 after taking 310 wickets in 76 matches. He made his debut for Australia in the 1999 Boxing Day Test against India with a five wicket haul his frighteningly quickest and he will retire as international cricket's tenth leading wicket taker of all time, with 718 victims across all three formats. He has been involved in a World Cup in 2003 and three successful Ashes campaigns.
Rated among the most fearsome fast bowlers in modern era, the ever-smiling six-footer having taken 380 wickets in 221 one-day internationals and 28 wickets from 25 T-20 appearances for Australia is still lively enough to declare “thirteenth” his lucky year and day: "Thirteen years, Friday the 13th, it's appropriate for me to go. I woke up this morning after not much sleep and it's the right time to go. It just came to me this morning and I just felt it's the right time to leave the game”. Only a brave heart can say that in a team environment you have to be committed 100%, both mentally and physically. He thought it wouldn't be fair for him to continue, not lack of commitment, but you just get to a point in your life when you decide enough is enough.
Brett Lee has the image of a happy-go-lucky character, who smiled through adversity and made friends while bowling at over 150 km an hour as though Australian cricket is said to be a professional set-up, though he considered himself an entertainer while devastating his enemy in the battleground. He said he was happy to have played with the likes of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Adam Gilchrist, Steve and Mark Waugh, heroes of his growing years.
Today one of the great sportsmans announced his retirement from the Cricket....
Salute the SpeedStar of the Cricket....
A great cricketer, great human being and great charmer. All the best Bret Lee..though see you many times in India
one of the all time great fast bolwer has won many hearts bcoz of his great action......... best of luck for ur remaing life..
Great Brett, we will miss you really really very much. One of my all
time favorites, a thorough gentleman and great sportsman. All the best
for your future endeavors, especially in your second home. GOD BLESS!
Hello, is there someone out there... who can advise some of the Indian
players who never plan retirement at all and don't give way to other
young talented players?
Its been great watching you on field. Thanks for all the action.
All the best Lee for your 2nd innings. HE was amazing at teh start of his career but have to compete for place in MCgrath-gillespie era. In last few years he was just a average bowler so good decision to retire at this time.
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