Fast bowler Brett Lee says he will pay discarded Cricket Australia coach Dennis Lillee out of his own pocket to continue their long and fruitful association.
The fast-bowling legend and CA parted ways last week after it was revealed the former Test wicket record-holder had refused to accept a hugely reduced offer from the game's governing body.
Lee said yesterday the work Lillee had done for him and other Australian bowlers was invaluable.
"You can't put a price on what Dennis Lillee has done for me and Australian cricket," he said.
"It's embarrassing what has happened, but there are two sides to every story and I'm sure Cricket Australia has its own reasons for not keeping him on.
"I will be happy to pay Dennis to coach me individually and I won't hesitate to fly him across the country or across the world at my own expense to help me if I'm having a problem, or fly anywhere to meet him myself - even if it is just to catch up for a coffee."
Lee met Lillee in Sydney when he was already a tearaway fast bowler. Lillee has been an integral part of his career and Lee says he sees no reason to change their relationship.
"I was 16 when I first met him at Kingsgrove Sports Centre," Lee said. "I was just a young kid who wanted to impress him by bowling as fast as I could.
"He told me I needed to change my action otherwise I would get stress fractures in my back. I didn't think I needed to change so I ignored the advice.
"At 19 I was diagnosed with stress fractures in my back. The next day I rang Dennis and said, 'OK, I'm ready to listen', and he's been a big part of my career ever since. I've lost count of the number of times he's flown out from Perth to help me out.
"In 2000 when they were saying I had a suspect action he just told me not to worry about it. And last year when I was having no-ball problems he helped me to pick apart my action and get it right again."
Lillee says he felt insulted by the offer CA tabled and that he would not be able to do his job properly under the proposal it put forward.
The decision by CA to end its association with Australia's greatest fast bowler and one of the nation's most revered sporting figures has stunned the sporting public.
Jason Gillespie, whom Lillee has also helped throughout his career, said he found the decision not to use Lillee "crazy".
CA chief executive James Sutherland yesterday defended the move as being part of the evolution of CA's approach to coaching, and said that CA and Lillee could not agree on the terms of a new contract.
Lee said he was continually amazed by Lillee's knowledge of the game and ability to pass it on to his students.
"Dennis has this tremendous aura about him," he said.
"When he speaks, people listen. He talks to you on your level, whereas other coaches seem to try to put up a barrier. He speaks the same language as his students.
"He has a great feel for the game and for the art of fast bowling. He's been a coach of mine since I was 16 and hasn't just helped me with my action, it's about the whole approach to bowling fast.
"He's so mentally tough and passes this on to his pupils.
"It's a great shame that other young kids won't be able to benefit from his great knowledge of the game.
"The fact is we're all disappointed about what has happened, but it's not as if we're never going to see him again. He's always been there for guys like me and Jason Gillespie and I can't see that changing."
- JAMES MacSMITH