Brett Lee joins Ireland ahead of World Cup
Former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee has agreed a short-term deal to become the bowling coach of the Ireland cricket team ahead of the World Cup, which gets underway in Australia and New Zealand on the 14 February.
Lee, who recently retired from all forms of the game, will help the Irish team as they build-up in Sydney towards the global event. Ireland's coach Phil Simmons is excited that his bowlers will have the opportunity to work with Lee, who was part of Australia's victorious World Cup winning squads in 2003 and 2007.
Simmons said: "Brett Lee has a wonderful knowledge of fast bowling, and his special insight of Australian pitches will help give our bowlers further confidence ahead of their group matches.
"I'm sure all our bowlers will benefit from the experience that a World Cup winner has accumulated, especially in the pressure situations of a global event. It's a fantastic opportunity for our bowlers to learn from a living legend and one I'm sure they'll all benefit from."
Lee, who will linked up with the Irish squad before their two official warm-up games against Scotland and Bangladesh on the 10 and 12 February respectively, said he was looking forward to helping and developing the Ireland bowlers.
The 38 year-old Lee said: "I have done work with the India cricket team, I have done work with the IPL, other players around the world. I have done a lot of work with the Australian juniors and current Australian cricketers too.
"When I get an opportunity to help out the youngsters, it is my chance to further my skills in terms of assessing bowling methods and also to help me give back something to the game of cricket.
"I have played a lot of cricket but involvement with youngsters helps me improve, and also makes sure that I am well aware of what the juniors are doing and to keep in touch with the latest methods employed to further skills all around the world."
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