Up close and personal with Brett Lee

Brett Lee is quite the star at the Nidahas Trophy! This former Australian fast bowler wears many more hats than that of a cricketer. The 41-year-old Lee talked to Prothom Alo in detail about cricket and his life outside of the game. Rana Abbas reports from Colombo.

PA: You’re a fast bowler, a musician, a singer, an actor. What do you identify with the most?

BL: I enjoyed playing cricket while growing up. Music was a piece of the jigsaw lacking in my life. It just relaxes and cheers me up.  I tried acting because it was fun and a challenge. I love commentary. But to me, it’s all about family is everything to me. I always put family first and family is the most important thing. I’ve got very close family at home. I speak to mum and dad every day. My two brothers are my best mates. So, all that stuff comes second. I always put family first.

PA: We see a multi talented Brett Lee. How difficult is it to manage everything at a time?

BL: I’ve always said that in life you need a good balance. A lot of my friends who play cricket for Australia have got only one passion, and that’s cricket. But I played cricket because I enjoyed it. It wasn’t always my first love. Of course I love the game, it’s given me chance to visit new countries and meet new people and play against the world’s best players. It was fun playing cricket but I have heaps of other interests too. That’s what kept me going. I didn’t just focus on cricket too much.

PA: When did you decide to become a fast bowler?

BL: When I was nine. I told my mom and dad that I wanted to be the world’s fastest bowler and wear baggy green cap for Australia. I wanted to bowl at 160 km since I was nine. And everything I did, my training was aimed at that 160kph.

PA: What factors helped you be a good fast bowler?

BL: I think to be a good fast bowler you must be a good athlete, you’ve got to be a very good sprinter. And that’s one thing I always tell the young cricketers, try and stay away from the heavy weights in gym. If you look at the batsman around the world these days, they are getting better, they are playing better shots. They have better cricket bats. They are hitting longer balls because they are trying to improve their technique, whereas the bowlers these days are getting slower. I don’t see any bowler consistently bowling at 145 kph nowadays. I don’t think they are training correctly. I would say, lay off the weights. Increase the running and sprints.

PA: Who was your inspiration during your childhood?

BL: My older brother Shane (Lee), my father and, and South Africa’s Allan Donald. I loved watching Donald.

PA: You have many faced injuries in your career. Did you ever consider cutting down your pace?

BL: No, I wanted to bowl at the same pace till the end of my career. I hit 150 kph when I was just sixteen. And I continued through the last match of my career. I am lucky that I maintained same pace for twenty years of my career. It was all about hard work and dedication. But the easy option for me would be bowling at 135 kph and take a bowling mark of 15 steps. But that didn’t excite me.

PA: Steve Waugh once said, Brett bowled at his 100 percent pace throughout his career. It’s an incredible feat for a fast bowler. What made it possible despite being injured a lot in your career?

BL:  It’s just the way I trained. I pride myself on being super fit. It’s very important to be mentally tough and strong. Of course you have to have a good technique but lot of people don’t take different aspects of the game seriously. It’s important too. But mental toughness is very important too. There were days when I was going through absolute pain. My foot and my toe were broken and I had to push through the pain.

PA: How did you enjoy the pace race with Shoaib Akhter?

BL: I enjoyed it. I loved bowling in the same game as Shoaib. I loved the way he steamed in. And I thought he was great for the game.

PA: How did you feel when Shoaib made the record of bowling at 100 mph?

BL: Well, I wanted to make sure that I pass the 100 mph as well!

Russel Arnold:  Did you ever think of bowling alongside Shoaib?

BL: No. There was talk about him and me playing a game together, but it didn’t happen.

PA: Do you see enough speedsters these days?  

BL: I want to see young guys are bowling quicker. There are some wonderful fast bowlers but I want to see more young fast bowlers come through.

PA: Do you think there are any who could have got a chance in your 2000-07 Australian team?

BL: I think it’s Mitchell Starc. He’s a great bowler, has a good pacer. Pat Cummins is an exciting bowler too. I would be very good if he can bowl consistently at 150 kph.

PA: You are now watching Bangladesh pacers very closely. How would you evaluate them?

BL: I think some of them have good pace. Taskin is one of them. He has a lack of confidence but I think he is still a good bowler. He seems to be a smart cricketer. He’s a thinking cricketer. I’m looking forward to seeing how his career unfolds.

PA: The major problem of Bangladesh pacers’ is inconsistency. How can they be consistent like Rabada?

BL: Consistency is a problem for others too. Rabada is in good form, did well against Australia. Not only bowlers, batsman also wants to be consistent. It’s not only practice, but having a correct mindset is also important. As I said earlier, I am eager to see Taskin bowling superbly.

PA: Who impresses you the most among Bangladeshi bowlers?

 BL: I have seen few guys out there but I mentioned Taskin because he is quick. I’m a bit disappointed that he is not playing tonight (against India). Hopefully he is playing next game and he is the one guy I would want to work with. I am going to catch up with him for a chat.

PA: For the 2019 world cup, what type of pacer is needed for Bangladesh? I mean who can hit the deck in right place or swing bowler?

BL: I think you can have both. I have seen some coaches who say, I want to see you as a hit the deck bowler or you a swing bowler. But I think you have to be both in different parts of the game. In T20 cricket you have to bowl with a new ball, you have to swing the ball. It doesn’t mean float the ball up. But swing the ball fast. Then as the game goes on you will change it. You have to be hitting the deck, taking the pace off the ball.  And people always ask me should I bowl swing or bowl fast. I tell them to do both.

PA: Which is the best delivery in your career?

BL: I think it’s the time I got Sachin out! I didn’t care how I get him out, it was always great thing to get his wicket.

PA: Who is the toughest batsman you faced?

BL: Probably Brian Lara and Sachin. I didn’t get the chance to bowl to Sanjay Manjrekar [sitting next to him]. He would probably get double hundred against me!

PA: ICC has made the rule tougher in terms of sledging. How do you see the matter as an Australian cricketer? Does it have any impact on competitive cricket?

PA: I don’t like it being called sledging, I’d rather call it gamesmanship. And I think it’s healthy for the game. You never want to make any racial vilification or excessive swearing. But you need aggression though it should be controlled. I don’t want to see robots out there playing cricket. I like the aggression of playing cricket, but don’t want to push it too far.

PA: Apart from cricket, you are also involved in showbiz. Acting or music- which is tougher?

BL: Probably acting is tough, but I loved it.

PA: Do you have any idea about Bangladeshi music?

BL: Yes, I’ve heard some Bangladeshi music. Maybe next time I can learn some tunes.

PA: Which type of music you love most?

BL: I love all genres of music, rock, classical, commercial rock. And obviously I had the pleasure of singing with Asha ji. She is lovely, a beautiful person.

PA: Which actor or actress do you like the most?

BL: I would have to say Preity Zinta. She was boss of my team! And Shahrukh Khan too.

PL: How was the response at your movie?

BL: Yes, people loved and enjoyed it. They really appreciated it.

PL: What is the difference between acting and cricket?

BL: You can have a second chance in acting. In cricket, you can’t say, oh cut! Let’s take the shot again.

PA: This is my last question, what is the mystery behind your evergreen youthful look?

BL: Lot’s of sleep!

PA: Thank you

BL: Thank you

*This interview has been transcribed by Galib Ashraf.