Brett Lee credits Dennis Lillee for shaping his career

If you talk about fast bowlers from the current generation who used to intimidate batsmen with their sheer pace then you are bound to name Aussie speedster Brett Lee. He was a nightmare for the batsmen around the world during his heydays and tormented them with his pace and swing.

Making his Test debut way back in 1999 against India, Lee became the perfect foil for Glenn McGrath and the duo kept on destroying quality batting line-ups over the years. While Lee played his last Test in 2008, he went on to play ODIs for four years more and eventually retired in 2012.

He grew up idolizing Dennis Lillee and thanked the former great for his contribution in enhancing his skills and making him a better bowler. During an interview with Sportsta, Lee shared his memories with Lillee. Besides rating him as a great cricketer, he said Lillee was also a great person and always helped the youngsters coming through.

Recalling an incident when he was a 16-year-old kid, Lee said Lillee was pretty impressed with the amount of pace he generated at such a young age but warned him that if he doesn’t change his action he will get a broken back within two years. The prediction came true and Lee broke his back at the age of 19. It was when Lee called him up and said, “Mr.Lillee, its Brett Lee here. I am 18 and I have got a broken back and now I am ready to listen.”

Lee emphasized on the fact that Lillee has shaped the career of many budding cricketers including him. According to Lillee bowling aggressively and taking wickets was a part of the process but what was more important was to enjoy what you are doing. For Lee running in and bowling fast was perhaps the toughest thing but Lillee did that time and again and he has a terrific record to back his credentials.

According to Lee, Lillee was a crowd favourite during his heydays and the sight of him running fast with his button untucked and uprooting the stumps was a joy to everyone’s eyes.