By Neena Bhandari, IANS
Sydney : As speed merchant Brett Lee leaps up in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Test bowling rankings to No 5, the 31-year-old says he wants to play on for four more years and spearhead Australia’s World Cup defence.
Having just been adjudged the Man of the Series against Sri Lanka, Lee Wednesday told Australia’s Channel Seven how doctors feared for his career after stress, fracture and injuries in the recent years. His ankle injury, earlier this year, cost him a spot in the World Cup, raising concerns about his career.
However, his fans always expected him to strike back. Admitting that adversity had made him hungrier than ever, Lee, who has played 61 Tests and 157 one-day internationals, said every time he wears the Baggy Green, he thinks of the great Australian cricketers — Don Bradman, Steve Waugh, Rod Marsh.
Today, Channel Seven announced that Lee had signed with the network to play a “key role” in its news and information programming.
In a statement, Channel Seven’s chief cxecutive David Leckie said: “Brett is a champion. He’s got the personality and the smarts to build a career in television beyond cricket. For the moment, we want him to focus on his leading the Australian bowling attack against India, Sri Lanka and New Zealand over the summer.”
“Brett will play a key role in our leading news and information programs, including Sunrise and Seven News, and we’re actively developing plans for him across our network,” Leckie added.
Seven kicks off its biggest year in sports beginning with the Australian Open Tennis followed by the Olympics and other major sporting events.
Lee said he was “delighted” to be associated with Seven as “this relationship will allow me to be involved in areas outside cricket which are also of great interest.”
The paceman has been brushing up his Hindi and has plans of acting in Bollywood films after he retires from cricket. He has already become a sensation for his duets with Asha Bhonsale. But for now, it is only cricket as the Australian team gears for India’s arrival next month.