Brett Lee Retired from International Cricket

Brett lee retired from international cricket is the news which is spread like hell around the cricket world. Brett announced his retirement from international cricket at SCG today at a press conference called by him . But the veteran said he is not fully out of the cricket arena, he would continue playing BBL and IPL. Though he planned to retire after world T20 in september but the recent injury during a game at Durham against English team forced him to do so. In his statement Brett lee said:  “I guess you ask yourself a lot of questions when you’ve been injured or been through a tough time,”

Tribute to Brett Lee

Lee said. “It’s been the last two or three nights I have thought about it a lot. I woke up this morning and I knew this was the right day to do it.  “In a team environment you have to be committed 100%, both mentally and physically. Looking at the next two months I just did not have that desire any more. It wouldn’t be fair on me or the rest of the team if I was to go over there with that attitude – not lack of commitment, but you just get to a point in your life when you decide enough is enough. “The great run must end. It was going to be post-World Cup [Twenty20]. We had spoken about that with the selectors and that was the time I was going to walk away from the game. But I woke up this morning and just felt like I was ready. It was time to go.”

Brett lee’s 13 year one day cricket was one that any bowler had hoped for. Beginning from the boxing test against India in 1999, he was involved in three of the Australian campaigns that lifted the ashes, played a big role in getting Australian team the world champions in 2003 and played several tests in which his role was quite significant. The paceman ended in getting 380 wickets in one day international, which equaled Glenn McGrath’s record for most wickets as a Australian. He ended nth on the list of most wicket by a bowler in his career i.e., 718.

The paceman played 261 one day internationals in his career in Australian colors. But was fully committed every time he walked to the ground as a batsmen, as a bowler or a fielder. He would always be remembered as one of the greats in international cricket arena with his fine spells of bowling that turned the game on his head. During his 13 years career he sustained many injuries but he negotiated them with patience but the last injury drew him out the game. One of the highlights of his career was his allround skills which meant he not only supported the team in bowling department, but in all three departments of the game. During his career he played several important inning and took several great catches, he was know to be a ‘great athlete’ around the world.

During the press conference when he was asked about Australia position as a team he said:  “What I can say about the Australian cricket team right now is that we are guided by a terrific guy in Michael Clarke,”. He also admired the young Pat Cummins qualities (who is probably his descender as one of the quicks) by saying:

“He’s got so much talent. If I had half his talent that he’s got at 19, you’d take a million Test wickets,” Lee said. “He’s a wonderful guy, he’s a guy that listens, he’s got a great body to bowl fast. The thing I told him the other day is that you are going to get injured, unfortunately.

The veteran completed the conference with these words: “There’s still the Big Bash, there’s the IPL. I’m not totally losing my cricket thrill or the chance to play cricket. Hopefully I will get the opportunity to play here [the SCG] again. Obviously it won’t be for the Australian cricket team, which will be sad. But I know I’ve made that right call.”