Today in 2010: Brett Lee announces retirement from Test cricket

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Time and injuries finally caught up with Australia fast bowler Brett Lee as he announced his retirement from Test cricket on this day in 2010.

It had been two years since the New South Wales pacemen had played in the long format of the game due to a number of niggles, with a side strain keeping him out of the 2009 series in which England reclaimed the Ashes on home soil.

Lee made his decision after speaking to his friend and former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who himself had quit Test cricket after that Ashes win.

Australia fast bowler Brett Lee and England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff share a joke
Lee spoke to Andrew Flintoff before announcing his retirement from Test cricket (Gareth Copley/PA)

At his peak he was one of the most feared bowlers in world cricket and is still third on the all-time list of fastest deliveries in Test cricket, behind only Shoaib Akhtar and Shaun Tait.

“I’m not 21, I’m 33. Trying to bowl at 150kph (93mph) for five days is very hard on the body,” he said.

“As far as my cricket goes, anything is possible – I may play one-dayers, or no cricket at all. I may never bowl another ball and if that’s the case, I’m so satisfied with my career and my longevity.

“I’m not saying it’s definitely over, but I’m not sure what I want to be just yet.”

Australia fast bowler Brett Lee bowls a delivery
Lee remains one of the fastest bowlers to have played Test cricket (Sean Dempsey/PA)

Lee went on to play one-day and T20 internationals for another two years, and eventually retired from all cricket after the 2015 Big Bash League.

The fast bowler ended his Test career with 310 wickets in 76 matches, at the time the fourth-highest Australian total behind Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Dennis Lillee.

Australia Brett Lee

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