Brett Lee - When the Blonde Bombshell left the field

Brett Lee of the Sixers looks dejected after the final ball during the Big Bash League final match between the Sydney Sixers and the Perth Scorchers

His last over was the perfect summation of his 20 years on the cricket field. Hard-fought, nerve-wracking, adrenaline-rushing and thoroughly entertaining. Two breath-taking wickets. And that chainsaw celebration.

Brett Lee – hailed as the blonde bombshell with his flashy smile and fierce pace – made his First Class debut for New South Wales in 1994/95, quickly raising his game and following his brother’s footsteps into the Australian team. He made his Test debut on 26th December 1999 against India. The young boy with lightening pace startled India’s famed batting line-up with a wicket off his first over and a 5-for in his first match.

From that moment on, his career saw some monumental highs. He went on to become the 4th highest Test wicket-taker for Australia though injuries forced him to retire from the longer format to prolong his career. With 380 wickets, he became the joint highest ODI wicket-taker for Australia along with McGrath. A relatively short T20 tenure towards the end of his career for Australia saw him shine in a format apparently suited for the young.

But his statistics have been well written about and need no mention. They cover only a part of the story that made him such a loved, admired player of the game.

A smile that never left his face

Never in his entire career did he take on the cricket field without that brilliant, flattering smile – the smile that always showed how lucky he considered himself to be there and that he wanted to enjoy every moment of it.

And every wicket was a celebration of that fact – the animated heal-clicking, the fist-pumps and the classic chainsaw. It was impossible to dislike someone who brought that kind of energy to the field.

As a boy, he only had one dream – to be a fast bowler for Australia. He bowled endlessly to his brothers, till the concrete strip forming a pitch and the garage door that acted as a keeper were thoroughly beaten and battered. But in January 2015, when he played his final game, he left as one of the few bowlers to have broken the 160 km barrier.

His daunting dedication to bowl so fast consistently took a toll on his body. He battled a series of injuries including an elbow injury, ankle problems, stress fractures of the back, abdominal injuries, foot surgery, and the list could go on. Yet, after each time, he would be back on the field – just as fast, energetic and smiling.

His infectious personality made him a very popular player, both on and off the field. One only needs to come to India to see the kind of fan following he has garnered for himself.

And so, when he left the field one final time earlier this year, he left behind memories that fans around the world can only be thankful for. He left behind a moment that has been hailed as the spirit of cricket, he left behind a classic spell to Brian Lara, he left behind a poetic run-up. And he left us all with a cherishing sense of fulfilling a boyhood dream.

He may not have earned himself the tag of being one of the Test greats, but he sure has inspired many to get there.

So, for a thoroughly entertaining, scintillating performance till the very last ball – Thank you, Binga. No Australian squad seems complete without you.