Brett Lee

Brett Lee (born November 8, 1976 in Wollongong, New South Wales) is an Australian cricketer.

Related Topics:
November 8 - 1976 - Wollongong - New South Wales - Australia - Cricket

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He is an express fast bowler, and at his fastest is capable of bowling over 150 kilometres per hour (km/h) or 96 miles per hour (mph). He is also an athletic fielder and aggressive lower-order batsman.

Related Topics:
Bowler - Kilometres per hour - Miles per hour - Fielder - Batsman

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Lee made his first-class debut for New South Wales as an eighteen year old in 1994 and quickly made an impression with his speed and hostility as a bowler. Brett's elder brother Shane also played for NSW and Australia.

Related Topics:
First-class - New South Wales - 1994 - Shane

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By the late 1990s there were calls for him to be included in the national squad, and he duly made his Test debut for Australia in December 1999 against the touring Indians, taking thirteen wickets in his opening two Tests at the impressive average of 14.15.

Related Topics:
1990s - Test - December - 1999 - Indians - Average

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In his first three series in the team Lee was outstanding, taking forty wickets in his opening seven Tests, although he struggled on the 2001 Ashes tour of England and has largely been unable to capture his best form since then in the Test arena.

Related Topics:
2001 - Ashes tour of England

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In one-day internationals Lee is widely regarded as one of the world's finest bowlers, with a wide array of deliveries including a devastating in-swinging yorker. His bowling strike rate of around 30 puts him amongst the greats in this form of the game. He also has a one-day international hat-trick to his name, achieved in the 2003 World Cup against Kenya.

Related Topics:
One-day internationals - Yorker - Strike rate - Hat-trick - 2003 World Cup - Kenya

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After a continued spell of poor form, highlighted by a far below average home series against India, Lee lost his Test team place to fellow fast bowler Michael Kasprowicz in 2004. The 'Lee or Kasprowicz?' debate was a popular topic of debate for cricket commentators, journalists, analysts and fans alike until the first test of the 2005 Ashes series, where he made his way back into the Australian team after impressive one-day form.

Related Topics:
Michael Kasprowicz - 2004

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He vies with Pakistani bowler Shoaib Akhtar for the mantle of 'World's Fastest Bowler', although many former players consider former Australian Jeff Thomson as the fastest bowler of all time.

Related Topics:
Shoaib Akhtar - Jeff Thomson

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Lee is considered a 'pin-up' boy of Australian cricket and is decidedly popular with cricket's female fans. He also has a number of personal sponsorship deals. He is also the member of a rock band Six And Out.

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