Brett Lee, one of the fastest and most feared bowlers in cricket history, credits fellow fast-bowling legend Dennis Lillee for shaping his career. Lee, renowned for his express pace, first dreamed of breaking the 160kph (100mph) barrier and wearing the baggy green at just nine years old.
It was as a teenager that Lee had his first encounter with Lillee at a fast-bowling camp.
“You’re the quickest here, but if you don’t change your [bowling] action, in two years I reckon you’ll have a broken back,” Lee recalls Lillee saying.
At the time, Lee ignored the advice. “When you’re 16 you think you’re invincible, and two years later I broke my back,” he said.
Cricket Australia, then the Australian Cricket Board, recognized Lee’s talent and flew him to Perth to work closely with Lillee. Lee credits Lillee with modifying his bowling action throughout his career, allowing him to reach extraordinary speeds while managing his back.
Brett Lee’s Record-Breaking Fast Bowling Career
Brett Lee went on to become one of cricket’s fastest bowlers, claiming 310 wickets in 76 Tests during one of Australia’s most formidable fast-bowling eras. He also excelled in limited-overs cricket, taking 380 wickets in 221 ODIs and 28 wickets in 25 T20Is. His international career spanned from 1999 to 2012, and he remains a benchmark for pace bowlers worldwide.
Growing up as one of three brothers, Lee recalls that he struggled to bat or bowl leg spin as a child, but fast bowling became his obsession. He idolized legends like Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee, aiming to break the 160kph milestone. Lee’s fastest delivery in international cricket was clocked at 161.1kph, ranking among the fastest balls ever bowled.
“I wanted to bowl quick and to have that thrill of seeing the stumps fly. That became my obsession,” Lee said.
Legacy and Hall of Fame Induction
Lee played a crucial role in Australia’s cricket dominance, contributing to ODI World Cup victories in 2003 and 2007, as well as multiple Ashes campaigns. In a fitting tribute to his career and mentor, Lee was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame at the foot of Dennis Lillee’s statue outside the MCG, shortly after a Boxing Day Test dominated by bowlers.
