The Kiwis in particular will have had nightmares about the speed tremors Lee inflicted on the Shaky Isles in 2000 when he bagged 19 wickets in three Tests, the best ever by an Australian in New Zealand. Three years farther back, they may recall him "terrorising a few blokes with some pretty fast, but admittedly erratic bowling" for the Academy side.
As for the South Africans, they can lay claim to playing host to the fastest delivery of the past 20 years - the Brett Lee thunderbolt against Pakistan in Johannesburg in April, 2000 which registered 156.6km/h - the delivery which became known as The Shot Heard Around The World.
Now with a return to the bouncy Australian wickets and the promise of some lightning decks in South Africa come March, Lee is warming up again for another crack at cricket's four minute mile - Jeff Thomson's 1975 speed record of 100mph or 160.45km/h.
"It's all media hype," protests Lee feebly of the sacred mark, soon conceding that "if there was the chance to break the 160 I'd be pretty proud to have a crack and do it."
The official title of Fastest Bowler In The World would mean hitting the motherlode in terms of the business of Brett.
Brett Lee Inc is running full steam. Already you can buy Brett Lee clothing (designed and often fitted by the man himself), Brett Lee toys (for the little Brett in all of us), Brett Lee footwear and sunglasses (for alleviation of blisters and enhancement of cool), and Brett Lee's choice in car (a BMW Z 3), cereal (Weet-Bix - the roughage of champions), drink (a major sports drink announced soon) and website.
In mind and body, Lee has always been the business. Helen, his adoring mother, remembers the day the seeds of greatness were sown in his first game for Oat Flats under 8s after a long apprenticeship to elder brother Shane in the backyard driveway the Lees shared in the shadows of the belching smokestacks of Wollongong where father Bob slaved and raised his family.
"Brett had a big, long run-up, and as he went tearing in, his face would turn bright red, and his white blond hair would just flow behind him," Helen recalls. "First ball, he comes in and bowls this boy, then the next one comes in and he bowls him too. The batsmen were all sharing pads, and they couldn't change quickly enough. Some of the boys started crying, and I was getting a little embarrassed because as soon as they got their pads on, they were taking them off again. Brett took 6-0 in one over. All bowled."
© 2001 ACP Publishing Pty Ltd