Brett Lee has just returned from the Indian Premier League (IPL) and is now back in Australia preparing for the forthcoming tour of the West Indies.
I am back in the Great Southern Land now and happily entrenched in a training camp in Brisbane with my Aussie team-mates.
We’ve had great fun catching up and swapping stories about our IPL adventures in India.
The multinational make-up of the IPL franchises created a new experience for most of us, and I can assure you it has all been positive.
I think Matt Hayden spoke the other day about how the IPL has helped consolidate relationships between the players from different nations and cultures, and he was spot on.
It was not only the IPL cricketing format that most of us enjoyed, but it was also the cultural experience of playing and travelling with cricketers from all nations that added to the whole adventure.
I think most of the Aussie guys put their hand up as well, which added to the experiences we had.
There was a degree of pride involved in performing in front of your peers.
In fact, players like Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne continue to fly the Aussie flag in spectacular fashion.
I am particularly amazed by Glenn and Shane – they have been off the scene for over a year now and yet they have been able to jump back onto the world stage and grab the limelight, which highlights to me the amazing results that can be delivered simply through being proud and competitive.
The international players that impressed me at the IPL included Virender Sehwag, who is averaging nearly 50 at a strike rate of 200 runs per 100 balls.
I am amazed that he was ever dropped from the Indian team.
On the bowling side, my team-mate at the Punjab Kings XI, Irfan Pathan, has been a standout.
He bowled tightly, took plenty of wickets and shared any pressure that I might have felt.
All up, the IPL was a great experience.
I hope all the fans back in Australia got into the tournament, and somehow felt the atmosphere that we enjoyed over in India.
I am off to the nets now – have got the West Indies in my sights now!
- BRETT LEE