Chennai: He made batsmen dance to his tunes during his playing days and now Brett Lee is enthralling music lovers. A pro at acoustic and bass guitars, the former Australian pacer is also adept at playing the piano and the mouth organ.
The acoustic guitar that he takes along while travelling is now being strummed to some of the famous Tamil tunes during his stay here for the Tamil Nadu Premier League. In a freewheeling off-beat interview to this newspaper, Lee talks about his backyard cricket, the best match he ever saw and his fear of heights.
Earliest sporting memory: Playing backyard cricket with my elder brother Shane Lee. It was Shane who always set the rules and my mom had to intervene time and again to settle issues.
Sports played while growing up: Athletics. It helped me on the cricket field.
What would have you done without cricket: I don’t know! It was always going to be cricket, can’t imagine life without it though I am equally passionate about music.
Most memorable moment: My elder brother, Shane, and I walking out to play our first international match together at the MCG. It was against India in 2000 and was only my second ODI.
Worst sporting moment: Walking off the field owing to a foot injury in my last Test match, against South Africa at Melbourne in 2008. (Lee didn’t take a wicket in both the innings and Australia for the first time in 16 seasons suffered a series defeat at home).
Sporting heroes: Allan Donald. The South African inspired me to run in and bowl as fast as I could.
Favourite ground: Sydney Cricket Ground. I have had a lot of success there.
Best cricket match you ever saw: The 1994 Boxing Day Test against England at MCG. I watched it on TV. The match will always be remembered for Shane Warne’s hat-trick in the second innings; it was first in an Ashes since 1903-04.
Sporting event you would pay the most to see: Red Sox vs Yankees baseball match. I was recently in New York and learnt a lot about the game. Boston and New York have a riveting rivalry.
Questions most asked by the public: Why you called Binga? Not many know that the electronic chain in Australia is more popular than me (laughs).
Who would you invite for dinner: Elvis Presley, if he is alive, because he is the king of rock music.
The person you learnt most from: My father, Bob (who worked as a metallurgist)
Other interests in your life: Fishing
One piece of advice to young fast bowlers: It’s a hard job, but very rewarding.
Biggest extravaganza: I splurge on musical instruments.
The latest song you tried on guitar: Neruppuda (Kabaali)
One bad habit you wish you could get rid of: When I am bored, I go hyperactive.
Favourite actor: Leonardo di Caprio
What’s the one thing that frightens you most: Heights. I have been trying hard to overcome that fear, but I don’t know why I am not able to.
