Wishes Pour In From Fellow Cricketers As Brett Lee Turns 44

Brett Lee. Okay! Tell me what is the first thing that comes to your mind when you read, hear or see the legendary Australian cricketer on your TV screens?

Is it his ever-smiling face? Or his beautiful action? Or his ferocious pace? Or his iconic celebration whenever he knocked over a batsman? Or his leap in the air? Or his monstrous sixes which more-often-than-not took the stuffing out of the opposition attack? Or for that matter his singing?

Well! Such was the impact of the former Australian speedster- both on and off the field- that you can be forgiven if you say ‘all of them’ while answering the above question.

Brett Lee is celebrating his 44th birthday and it is surreal to think that it’s been eight long years since the champion fast bowler last played a competitive game.

The 2003 World Cup winner enjoyed a celebrated 13-year-old career, one that started with the 1999 Boxing Day Test against India. Lee started his career with a brilliant five-wicket-haul at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground against a Sachin Tendulkar-led Indian batting-unit.

And, that was the kickstart of a 13-year-old career that saw Lee break and create many new records. Lee was the prime spearhead alongside Glenn McGrath of the Aussie bowling attack that won the 2003 World Cup. The Australian claimed a total of 22 wickets in 10 games in the same tournament where he also bowled a 160 km/h thunderbolt

Then in the 2007 T20 World Cup, Lee became the first-ever bowler to claim a T20I hat-trick (vs Bangladesh). Overall, Brett Lee claimed a total of 718 international wickets and he remains the only bowler besides Glenn McGrath to claim 300 wickets in both Tests and ODIs.

Lee announced his international retirement in 2012 before calling it a day from all cricket in 2014. He was part of the 2012 IPL winning Kolkata Knight Riders and he is now an active member of the commentary panel for Star Sports India.

As far as off the field is concerned, Brett Lee has featured in a music album with the legendary Asha Bhosle besides making his debut on the 70 mm screen with his 2015 Indo-Australian film ‘Unindian’

Also Read- India Need To Fight Hard And Buckle Down – Sourav Ganguly Talks About The Challenges In Australia

Here’s how Brett Lee’s fellow cricketers have wished him on his birthday-

To the one who bowled with ⚡️ speed and never backed down from any challenge, but off the field has always been a joy to know.

Wishing my mate Brett Lee a very happy birthday. p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->S<!---->E<!---->s<!---->0<!---->v<!---->R<!---->1<!---->A<!---->i<!---->5

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

? 160kph bowler
? 2003 Cricket World Cup champion
? First bowler to claim a T20I hat-trick
☝️ Fastest Australian to 100 ODI wickets in his time

Happy birthday to a pace bowling great, @<!---->B<!---->r<!---->e<!---->t<!---->t<!---->L<!---->e<!---->e<!---->_<!---->5<!---->8! p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->V<!---->0<!---->d<!---->w<!---->8<!---->4<!---->5<!---->v<!---->A<!---->N

— ICC (@ICC) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Happy birthday @<!---->B<!---->r<!---->e<!---->t<!---->t<!---->L<!---->e<!---->e<!---->_<!---->5<!---->8 p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->L<!---->H<!---->l<!---->J<!---->F<!---->D<!---->v<!---->Z<!---->J<!---->p

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Wish you a very Happy Birthday brother @<!---->B<!---->r<!---->e<!---->t<!---->t<!---->L<!---->e<!---->e<!---->_<!---->5<!---->8 .. Lots of love to you & your family ?❤️

— Suresh Raina?? (@ImRaina) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Within 48 hours of winning the 2003 World Cup, @<!---->B<!---->r<!---->e<!---->t<!---->t<!---->L<!---->e<!---->e<!---->_<!---->5<!---->8 was at the menswear store he ran with his partner, business as usual. That's the professionalism & work ethic that got him 718 international wickets!
Happy birthday Binga, the life & soul of every dressing room! p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->Q<!---->i<!---->4<!---->U<!---->p<!---->V<!---->C<!---->Z<!---->e<!---->Y

— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Happy birthday @<!---->B<!---->r<!---->e<!---->t<!---->t<!---->L<!---->e<!---->e<!---->_<!---->5<!---->8 have a good one .. keep well p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->b<!---->3<!---->X<!---->d<!---->Y<!---->5<!---->E<!---->c<!---->j<!---->E

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Happy birthday @<!---->B<!---->r<!---->e<!---->t<!---->t<!---->L<!---->e<!---->e<!---->_<!---->5<!---->8 Sir ? stay healthy and have a great day !!

— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Wishing SpeedGun a very happy birthday and have a beautiful year ahead mate @<!---->B<!---->r<!---->e<!---->t<!---->t<!---->L<!---->e<!---->e<!---->_<!---->5<!---->8 ?

— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

? The only bowler to take two ODI five-wicket hauls at Lord's.

? Wishing @<!---->C<!---->r<!---->i<!---->c<!---->k<!---->e<!---->t<!---->A<!---->u<!---->s legend, @<!---->B<!---->r<!---->e<!---->t<!---->t<!---->L<!---->e<!---->e<!---->_<!---->5<!---->8 a very happy birthday.#<!---->L<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->L<!---->o<!---->r<!---->d<!---->s

— Lord's Cricket Ground (@HomeOfCricket) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Happy 58th birthday young @<!---->B<!---->r<!---->e<!---->t<!---->t<!---->L<!---->e<!---->e<!---->_<!---->5<!---->8! you certainly made cricket watchable! h<!---->t<!---->t<!---->p<!---->s<!---->:<!---->/<!---->/<!---->t<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->/<!---->R<!---->s<!---->R<!---->0<!---->T<!---->F<!---->A<!---->6<!---->T<!---->E

— Lawrence (@LawrenceMachado) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Happy birthday ??? @<!---->B<!---->r<!---->e<!---->t<!---->t<!---->L<!---->e<!---->e<!---->_<!---->5<!---->8 p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->1<!---->V<!---->c<!---->y<!---->J<!---->O<!---->6<!---->f<!---->6<!---->5

— Mohammad Shami (@MdShami11) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Now that we’ve retired, we play on a different pitch but playing alongside you has always been a pleasure! Happy Birthday mate @<!---->B<!---->r<!---->e<!---->t<!---->t<!---->L<!---->e<!---->e<!---->_<!---->5<!---->8 p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->w<!---->i<!---->n<!---->X<!---->f<!---->J<!---->6<!---->D<!---->d<!---->4

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0