A bruised, bandaged on the forehead Brett lee famously bowled the last over of Australia’s World Cup reign of close to 12 years - from 1999 to 2011 quarter-final stage - just about three years back.
On Wednesday, a suited up self of the fast bowler had the World Cup trophy in his hand. He is in the Capital promoting the 2015 edition of the quadrennial event in Australia and New Zealand. The final of that would take place in Melbourne and lee wants to see and India-Australia title clash come March 29th.
“India versus Australia at Melbourne would be a great final. It would fantastic and incredible. It will be full house,” the now retired fast bowler who made his debut at Melbourne against India way back in 1999 said here on Wednesday.
Recently, lee did not find a place among the auctioned players for the Indian Premier league 7 even after having had a good Big Bash (Australia’s domestic tournament) at home but the Aussie feels at 37 and with the number of injuries he has had, he perhaps saw it coming.
“I wanted to give it (Big Bash) a crack and see how it goes but look, I am not getting any younger. I am not Benjamin Button. At 37, I have had more comebacks than Rambo,” he quipped.
On Tuesday in Mumbai, lee had said that in order to win the WC last year, India need a bowler who can bowl above 140 kmph. India have Ishant Sharma, who can bowl at that pace but the lanky Delhi lads ODI career doesn’t seem to be going anywhere as he meanders in and out of the team, he was dropped for the Asia Cup after being a part of one dayers in New Zealand.
On a question on if he were to be critical of Ishant, lee said “You need to give a bowler a fair run and see what he can do but if he not performing, you need to look at others.”
The bowler also spoke about his liking for the 50-over format of the game over the T-20 one. “If in a T-20, you are say four wickets down, the game is gone. But when it comes to 50 overs, one has a chance of making the comeback. I still like 50-over cricket a lot. Twenty20 and IPl can be touch and go But T20 has improved batsmen,” the former pacer explained.
Taking examples of Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne, lee said that it was all about role models and wanting to emulate them. He said that someone like Sachin played for India and impacted the youth as everyone then wanted to be a batsman like him, same as the case with Warne in Australia.
India are looking for a youngster (fast bowler) to put his hand up...Trends around the world also show that a role model is needed. When a Sachin Tendulkar started, everybody wanted to be a batsman like him. When Dennis lillee was playing, everybody wanted to be like him. When Warne was bowling those leg -spinners, everyone wanted to do that.So, it is important to have role models, someone these youngsters can look upto, someone who can get the youngsters to run in and bowl fast,” the 2003 WC winner said.