There is something about Brett Lee that people like.
It can’t be just that he is a nice guy, it was happening well before Freddie gave him a cuddle and even just being able to bowl really fast is not enough.
The man is simply loved by a huge number of cricket fans, and hated by surprisingly few.
Lee first arrived in cricket and almost immediately started in a space race with Shoaib Ahktar. Who will break 100 miles and become the fastest bowler ever.
Lee was the American entry. He had the team behind, was well prepared, looked like he was picked out of a catalogue and was earnest to the point of self-exhaustion. Shoaib was definitely the Russian entry. Madly disorganized, slightly insane, drenched in self-belief and despite all his problems he had the talent to get there.
No matter what madness either of these players has been through, public break ups, underwear label and Hindi song for Lee, and practically every other kind of public madness for Shoaib, people still stayed with them because they could bowl really bloody fast.
In 2003 in South Africa they went head to head on the speed guns. Which is two places both men like to be.
Now it appears that both of their careers might just be fading away at the same time.
Lee pulling out before another series is surely the end of his international career. Cricket Australia loves him, Ricky Ponting loves him and the Australian selectors love him, but there are now fit bowlers in form in Australian cricket. Leaving Harris and Bollinger out of the World T20 for Lee was always going to be a risk, but his form in the IPL, especially compared to Bollinger’s form, should have made the selectors worried that they made a mistake.
Now his body has failed him, again. I can’t see how he can ever come back. Australia’s fast bowling stocks are probably the envy of International cricket; Victoria’s line up alone could represent a few International teams.
So perhaps once and for all the Buzz Aldrin of modern cricket will have to be let go. The man loves representing his country, so he may never retire. I think the selectors just need to say that the future is here and that they have no more time or money to spend on the space race.
Lee is well loved, has an IPL contract and will be fine. He just won’t be an international player again. Most of us live fine knowing we won’t play international cricket again (or for the first time).
In my vision of the future I see some clever devious TV executive would see Lee’s injury as a good thing and offer him and Shoaib a TV show. They could travel the world training kids on fast bowling while digging at each other about speed gun read outs, which had the more potent Yorker, who hit more batsmen. It would be a reality TV odd couple type show, but with cricket, travel, girls and guitars. It practically writes itself.
They’d then make films, live performances and podcasts too. Oh, and t-shirts.
The show would be called Beamers, Bouncers & Bollocks.
They have to make this show.
.-= Andrew F´s last blog ..Zimbabwe touch me in my happy place =-.
Lee is like the Black Knight of cricket – no matter how many bits of his body he loses, he still thinks he can beat anyone
A Jrod post that makes you go awwww. Amazing.
I’m full of agreement on this.
.-= Wes´s last blog ..Slogfest Ante Portas: The Preview Collection —Regular Updates— =-.
Was this Article written (in JRod’s Brain) before Warm-up match against ZIm. ? or After ?
Your wish is heard, Lee exhausted himself again, had the best spell against Zim for 4 overs. Dug the Rug will replace him.
However, I agree old horse is getting tired sooner than expected, its bit sad but reality.
I always liked Lee better than Shoaib, since Shoaib hand was hyper-extending.
Btw. I feel happy for Zim., I heard they won world cup.
Is Lee trying to see how many injuries he can get in a season?
.-= Mock Wah´s last blog ..DLF IPL 3.0 – Nightmare Team =-.
I going to miss Brett playing International Cricket.
.-= Zyon´s last blog ..A crazy night watching a scorecard =-.
I don’t get it why Australian selectors are so persistent with him even they have so many options in fast bowling?
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I just hope managing two teams will not be a fatigue at two different systems
Regards
.-= Mudassar @ CricketVibe´s last blog ..IPL Heroes in ICC World T20 what do you expect? =-.
Great tribute JRod. Despite being a Pom, I’ve always liked Lee. He gives 100% on the pitch but seems a decent bloke off it without any trace of arrogance unlike many other cricketers I could speak of.
Bollinger and Harris were arguably the two best seam bowlers in the IPL and Australia’s chances in the World T20 is less given that both are absent from the squad – unless one presumably will replace Lee?
.-= The Reverse Sweep´s last blog .."Your guys took one hell of a beating…" =-.
I’m not quite sure the analogy of Shoaib as a representative of the Supreme Soviet really works, more like one of those insane breakaway ‘stan states.
It’s such a shame for Bing, I mean, how much bad luck can one player have?? Still, you can’t fault him for his tenacious attitude and his passion for the game. I’m really gonna miss seeing Binga play in the green and gold….. Great post Jrod.
Good riddance
I’m looking forward to that TV show. Maybe we should start it ourselves?
Beamers, Bouncers and Bollocks – Now that is a relity show I can watch. make it.
.-= Dhananjay Mhatre´s last blog ..A tribute to Anil Kumble =-.
earnest hard-working lower class white boy, we salute you – now fuck off.