Brett Lee

Brett Lee Biography

Brett Lee entered the world on November 8, 1976. He is the second of three sons born to Bob and Helen Lee; his siblings being older brother Shane, and younger brother Grant.

Brett grew up in Wollongong, New South Wales where the young Lee family had chosen to settle. His father worked at BHP steelworks, and he continues to work there today as a qualified metallurgist.

Soccer, basketball and skiing in the Snowy Mountains were three of the early sports that Brett and his brothers were introduced to during the school holidays, and on the rare times they were indoors, they were encouraged to play the piano. According to Helen, they were all good, but Brett didn't have time to learn because he couldn't sit still for 5 minutes!

Fortunately, Brett loved his cricket and showed an instant talent for it - all three Lee boys did. In Brett's first "real" game of cricket, when Brett was just 9 years old, he took 6-0 in one over, all bowled (side note: if that wasn't a sign from above, then I don't know what is!). Some of the opposition team members started crying, and soon enough, parents from other opposition teams started complaining that Brett was just too fast! Even Brett's own mother felt sorry for the opposition!

Brett loved seeing batsmen backing away and stumps flying - a common sight against his bowling at this age - but he wasn't prepared for the damage a cricket ball could do. He claimed his first "victim" at the age of 12. As Brett says, "I remember hearing this really loud crack and I saw him stumbling. There was blood all over the pitch. I felt sick; it shocked me. As much as I wanted to bowl as fast as I could at that age, seeing the results made me think I'd gone too far."

The next few years saw Brett continue his steady rise through the cricketing ranks culminating in his selection in the Australian Under-19 team for a tour of India in March '94. A back injury soon after forced Brett to lay low for a while, but with his unwavering determination and hard work, he ensured that the injury wasn't going to be the be all and end all of his cricketing career.

In '97-98, Brett's efforts were rewarded when he was selected to make his first-class debut for NSW in a Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia. It just took the one match for Brett to make an impact on the state scene, and the bruised and beaten Warriors team returned home to WA saying that the NSW Blues had perhaps discovered the fastest bowler in Australia.

Brett Lee

Brett Lee

Brett Lee

Brett Lee

Brett Lee

Brett Lee

Brett Lee

Brett Lee