Brett Lee Picks Three Toughest Batsmen He Ever Bowled To

Brett Lee was arguably one of the fastest and lethal bowlers to play the game. Having made his first appearance in 1999, Lee went on to play till 2012, terrorising a host of batsmen on his way to over 700 international wickets. Eight years after his retirement, the 43-year old went on to reveal the three toughest batsmen he bowled to.

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It was at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1999 against India; Brett Lee made his international debut. In his first innings with the ball, he went on to take five wickets, one of which was Rahul Dravid. In the second innings, Lee picked up two more to add seven wickets to the game as Australia won that game by 180 runs.

The retired speedster engaged in a session with former Zimbabwean cricketer Pommie MBangwa in Cricbuzz and named his first pick as Sachin Tendulkar, mainly due to having plenty of time to play his shots. After calling Sachin as the best batsman in the world, the New South Wales went on to hail Brian Lara, saying that the Prince of Trinidad could smack the ball for a six in any part of the ground.

“I would think of Sachin Tendulkar. Why Sachin? He had that extra time. You know you play against great players and feel that Sachin had the extra time. To explain that, I would say that it didn’t feel like Sachin was batting on the popping crease but he was batting on the return crease next to the stumps,” Brett Lee said.

“But, you know he was actually batting on the popping crease. But it felt time like he had that extra time. In my opinion, Sachin was the best batsman in the world. Then there was Brian Lara. He was just so flamboyant. You bowl six balls at one place and he would hit in six different places,” Brett Lee maintained.

Jacques Kallis was the greatest complete cricketer: Brett Lee

As far his final pick was concerned, Brett Lee went ahead with the former Proteas’ all-rounder, Jacques Kallis. Having admitted not to have watched or played against Gary Sobers, the 43-year old lauded Kallis as the greatest complete cricketer. It was due to him his ability to play as a specialist batsman or bowler that separated him from the rest. Kallis was also a phenomenal slip fielder.

“I have always said that Sachin was the best batsman ever, but in my opinion the best cricketer that game has seen, and I would add that I haven’t seen Gary Sobers play, I have watched highlights and all, but from the players I have watched and played against, it has to be Jacques Kallis. He was the greatest complete cricketer. He could open the bowling or play just as a batsman. He also caught those many catches at slips,” Lee concluded.

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