He is quick and sharp, with his observations as well. Fast bowler Brett Lee believes that the cricketing fraternity should inspire its members to express themselves.
“You don’t want the hierarchy tapping everyone down to be a robot. Over the past few years, I reckon that the Australian team’s character has diminished.
“You think about players like Merv Hughes, Shane Warne and Andrew Symonds, people that are fun, people that get bottoms on the seats.” Australia Twenty20 captain George Bailey also found himself at odds with Cricket Australia recently when he criticised the scheduling of Ryobi Cup, the country’s domestic one-day tournament. However, Lee is largely pleased with CA’s attempts at managing the increasingly hectic cricket calendar.
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“With scheduling, you think from the administrators’ point of view. It’s hard to fit all the tournaments in and then keep all the guys fresh. CA is trying to tick all the boxes.”
When asked for his opinion on the doubtful significance of a long-drawn series against India a month before the Ashes, the 36-year-old claimed it is a great opportunity for Australia to gather some momentum for the Test series.
Lee added that the weather in India will prepare his countrymen for a hot summer back home. He reasoned that while it would have been easier to stay in Australia and remain fresh for the Ashes, Bailey’s side can gather more confidence here after winning the ODI series in England.
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Lee was in the city to promote his Mewsic India Foundation, an organisation which provides education to marginalised children through music. Reflecting on the high number of injuries suffered by young Australian fast bowlers nowadays, the former World Cup winner joked that music therapy might help them. But he had some serious observations to offer as well.
“As a fast bowler, you’re on the brink of getting injured everyday. I think I have had 12 operations over the past 12-13 years. You go through a lot of pain, but it’s a matter of overcoming that,” said Lee, remembering his lost battle with injuries. Despite his current passion for changing lives through music, the Australian does fancy a coaching role in the future. Lee revealed that he would like to be involved with fast bowling clinics in Australia and India.