Brett Lee retires from cricket – Brett Lee announced his retirement from all formats of cricket at the SCG today. The speedster has tormented many batsmen since making his debut for Australia.
Brett Lee, who is playing the Big Bash League at present in Australia, will retire from all formats of cricket once the tournament ends.
Lee announced his retirement today at the SCG, having already publicised that the 2014-15 season would be his last of the career.
Nicknamed ‘Binga’ by his teammates, Lee has tormented many a batsmen time and again since his debut helping Australia acquire some stunning victories.
As a tribute to the 38-year-old speedster from Down Under, we look at his top five performances from his 17-year career.
Brett Lee vs. West Indies – 5/59 (2008)
It was the second Test match when Australia toured West Indies in 2008. The tourists had already put 479 on the scoreboard and had the West Indian batsmen in trouble at 4-182. Dwayne Bravo and Shivnarine Chanderpaul were looking dangerous and Australia needed wickets. Ricky Ponting introduced Lee, who got a five-for giving away 59 runs and ending the West Indies innings on 352.
Brett Lee vs. South Africa – 5/22 (2006)
South Africa and Australia were the top two cricketing nations in 2006 and South Africa’s tour of Australia in that year was guaranteed to be a gruelling one. Since the Kangaroos scored only 245 runs on the board, they needed someone to take wickets at regular intervals. Lee was handed the ball and he produced bowling brilliant enough for the world to admire. He got five South African wickets at the economy rate of just over 2.
Brett Lee vs. New Zealand – 5/42 (2003)
Brett Lee and Shane Bond were two of the quickest bowlers at the time and the competition of the quickest was on everyone’s mind. Bond produced a stunning spell of 6/23 rattling the Australians like never before. The Aussies, on the other hand, proved their might in the bowling department thanks to Lee’s spell of 5/42, in the process winning the match and eventually the 2003 World Cup.
Brett Lee vs. England – 5/41 (2005)
Before the 2005 Ashes series began, England and Australia participated in the Natwest Trophy with Bangladesh being the third team. Playing at Lord’s, Brett Lee managed to get 5 wickets for 41 runs against England in the process breaking the opposition’s spine. Australia won the match by 7 wickets.
Brett Lee vs. India – 5/47 (1999)
Brett Lee got his chance to wear the baggy green cap against India in 1999 at Melbourne and it was indeed a dream debut.
He got his first wicket in the very first over when he bowled Indian opener Sadagoppan Ramesh.
He also ended up with the wickets of Rahul Dravid and three other batsmen ending the inning with the figures of 5/47.
