Vivian Richards has paid Brett Lee the highest accolade by saying the Australian quick could match it for intimidation with the best of the former West Indian skipper's feared attack.
Richards unleashed some of the most frightening bowlers of all time in Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner, Michael Holding and Curtly Ambrose during the Windies' world domination of the 1980s and early 90s. But the "Master Blaster", who rates former Aussie paceman Jeff Thomson the fastest he faced, believes Lee has the ability to strike just as much fear in batsmen.
"I think he's certainly up there with those guys," Richards said. "I think it is hard to assess what took place from then to now … but I think when he's called upon to do it, he's just as good as any."
Lee, who has been clocked several times at quicker than 160kmh, became the fastest bowler to 300 one-day international wickets in Australia's series-clinching victory over the Windies in Grenada on Sunday - reaching the mark in his 171st game, 15 quicker than Waqar Younis (186). Barring injury, the 31-year-old will join Glenn McGrath as the only Australians to take 300 wickets in both Test and one-day cricket by the end of the year, with Lee 11 scalps short of the milestone in the five-day arena.
"What I have been impressed more than anything in Brett Lee is his fitness, and no matter what time of the day you call on Brett Lee he's going to be 100 per cent," Richards said.