I'm a long time Cricket Fan, but it was during the Ashes Tour here in 2005. I first saw Brett on Sky Sports News being interviewed by Paul Allott on his MOTM ODI performance, I think it was at Lords on July 10th. I thought he looked cute [I've always gone for Aussie fast bowlers] and noticed he had a strong Aussie accent [Sydneysiders seem broader than Melbourne accents]. I thought, ooh, the Tests will be starting soon, I'll see him lots then [I had no idea about how long he'd been out of the Test Team then]. On the first morning of the Lords Test [that was 21st July] I was having a cup of tea, watching and cheering England take wickets, and getting ready to attend an appointment at Bart's hospital in London, when the second lot of bomb scares happened, and we had to think about other horrible, frightening things, instead of the Cricket. I remember hearing Aussie reporters saying all their families and friends had texted them to ask if they were ok, and they knew nothing about the emergency going on outside Lords. I did see Brett's elaborate wicket celebrations during that match, and his athletic caught and bowled, which I enjoyed several times in slow-mo. I was a bit fed up the Aussies won.....Again! When we had such high hopes.
Of course by the 2nd Test at Edgbaston we were all gripped by a brilliant match, though on that final Sunday morning I was watching from my sofa, willing that final wicket to fall, although I recognized Brett was a really exciting player, and I liked him lots as a Cricketer. YAY! We won! I jumped up and cheered!
By Old Trafford, the 3rd Test, I had followed the BL and Glenn McGrath injury sagas, with Brett being in hospital, and then secretly making it to training, where I started swooning over him stretching and warming up in navy blue and shades, looking oh so cool! Even though by then I really liked him, I was still desperate for his wicket to fall, and England to win the match, and was soooooo deflated when the Aussies hung on - thanks to Brett's brilliant batting. I actually enjoyed watching Brett bat alot during the Ashes, especially the contest between him and Freddie, which was so exciting! Afterwards I heard a great interview with him and Glenn by Jim Maxwell, he was just soooo sweet, and very sporting, and giggling away saying "these tight finishes are killing me Jim!" I LOVE that interview, he's so natural in it, and I found his voice really drew me in, I was glad for him he had done well, at the end he said "Happy days!"
By the 4th Test at Trent Bridge I was totally smitten, and I'm afraid I found myself being upset with the Notts crowd for not applauding Brett's magnificent sixes against Steve Harmison, which were sensational, and deserved a more sporting response! hmmmph! During this match, I taped it when I had to attend my rearranged hospital appointment, and turned up at the Diabetic Clinic to find the telly on showing the cricket in the waiting room!
My lovely Dietician Liz [yes really] from New South Wales said "don't mention the Cricket!" Naturally, I spent the whole time talking about Brett Lee, who was her son's fave player. Sadly she's gone back to NSW now, but at later appts. We would spend ages chatting about BL and Australia. I'd read this website by then, and asked her all about Lane Cove, etc. She told me Mosman [his club] was "very posh". She had studied Dietetics with Adam Gilchrist's wife Mel at Sydney University, and described her as "beautiful" and that "all the cricketer's wives were tall, tanned, long legged and blonde, that was the look". I said, "yes, Brett's girlfriend is exactly the same". [Infact to me she looks just like a Dietician - very slim and very heathy]. Liz did promise to send Brett my love next time she took her son to the SCG for an ODI, as at that time he was being criticised all over in Australia [after the Ashes] - so unfairly! and it wasn't 100% certain he would make the Test Team.
On the final day of the 4th Test, I found myself cheering and getting excited when Brett steamed in and took 3 wickets! He was SO charged up! But Warne got all the credit that day for his 4fer. I'm a Hoggie Fan too, so it was a relief to see The Hogster and Gilo score the winning runs!
So the 5th test rolled along at the Oval, and I can honestly say I was far too tense to even enjoy it, it was SO stressful. Ofcourse I wanted Brett to play well, but I'm an England supporter and wanted us to win or draw to regain the little urn, so YAY! I was very happy! Brett was so reflective on that final day, after bowling his heart out and having KP dropped by Warne. He was desperately unlucky all through the Ashes series re his bowling, as I wrote to many Aussie journos after they criticised him. I also emailed Mark Nicholas via Channel 4 during this final Test saying how much Brett's charming manner and sporting style had made an impression on viewers in England during this Tour, and I remember during the ICC Awards in October which he introduced, he made a similar comment about "Brett's smile winning so many admirers during the Ashes Tour" that I read on Cricinfo.
Gosh! Sorry to go on! But just to conclude that although I'm a huge Brett Fan, and I want him to play well always, when it comes to the Ashes contest in November I'll be supporting England all the way!
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