He promised not to sing, but in a room-full of instruments and doe-eyed fans it was probably too much to ask Brett Lee not to at least bang the drum.

The Australian fast bowler and enthusiastic amateur musician is in India this month for the millionaire’s version of cricket – Indian Premier League.

But hours before he was to join his Kolkata Knight Rider team mates at Delhi’s baking Feroz Shah Kotla stadium he spent the morning in the Indian capital’s less glamorous outer suburbs, jamming with orphaned kids.

It’s about as far as you can get from the “baked beans” approach to India, made famous by former team mate Shane Warne, and it has paid off in spades for Lee – who is as loved in the cricket-mad subcontinent for his bowling prowess as he is for his enthusiastic embrace of the culture.

“When I come to India I’m not closed off to the culture which is why I like coming back here and I think why people enjoy me coming back,” he said yesterday as he opened the sixth music therapy centre sponsored by his Brett Lee Foundation.

He’s been so open in fact that he’s probably less well-known for his considerable charity work than he is for his forays into Indian popular culture.

Lee has so far made a cameo appearance in a Bollywood movie, done a catwalk show for an Indian designer and a music performance with renowned hindi singer Asha Bhosle which reached number four on the Indian charts.

Indian audiences have also long-indulged his passion for music, turning up in encouraging numbers for gigs by his succession of bands.

But if there’s a swansong for Lee he’s not saying yet.

Despite age and injury the 35-year-old says he has at least a few years of money-spinning IPL in him.

“I guess it doesn’t really matter how long I play cricket for. After that I’ll have a bit more time in life but while I am still playing cricket I can raise awareness for causes and that’s important,” he says.

When pushed he nominates “another year or so in IPL” but wont be drawn on the now well-trawled subject of former skipper Ricky Ponting’s retirement from the game.

“Who knows? He’s been an absolute legend of the game, a stalwart of Australian cricket for close to two decades. I think he deserves to go at a time he thinks is right.”

Lee’s India-based Mewsic foundation has spent more than $75,000 in just 12 months, funding a two-year post graduate teaching diploma in music therapy and therapy sessions for disadvantaged and trauma-affected kids, and people with autism.

He says he’d like to sponsor “hundreds of centres in India and who knows what could happen across the subcontinent?”

It’s a quirky social cause given the seemingly endless need in India.

But for Lee whose personal and physical problems – including a broken back at 17, a painful marriage break-up and a recent foot injury – have been well-documented over the years the idea of music therapy struck an immediate chord.

“I’ve faced a lot of challenges personally and in sport,” he says.

“I’ve always played cricket but I felt there was a part of my life missing and once music came in I felt more calm. There’s nothing better after coming from Eden Gardens with a 100,000 screaming fans to go home and just relax to some music.”

Lee says he wants to be “the meat in the sandwich” that links kids from the Indian slums to nurturing learning environments and hopefully higher education.

“I feel like India is partly my second home and I can’t keep coming here and not give something back.”

Source: The Australian – May 8, 2012 | AMANDA HODGE

Sona says, “I have never really followed the game of cricket so much, but I quite like watching Brett Lee. I have been crazy about his looks since I was a young girl. He’s so yummy (giggles).

I must say, although he is 36 years old now, he has still managed to be an eye candy for a lot of girls, young as well as older women, for a very long time.”

Looks like Brett has earned himself some hot fans from Bollywood as well.

Source: Mid-Day – May 3, 2012

Meeting Brett AGAIN in the IPL After Match Party, on April 10, 2012 @ Bangalore’s ITC Royal Gardenia couldn’t have gotten any better!

Last year he was there at the party before me, so this year I made sure not to miss out on lost time like last year

So there I was waiting for him to come…he DID!

Not leaving his side once I reached next to him… And he asks you are “depasomani @catchmeifucan” from Twitter right? :O I was more than SHOCKED to know that he remembered our last encounter…. Read more here!

“One should give credit to Kallis and Lee for starting the game plan well. Kallis, in fact, got us the initial breakthrough helping our team in getting momentum … that really helped my rhythm to pick four wickets,” he told reporters.

Balaji said Tuesday’s win was a huge psychological boost for KKR.

“Every win in the IPL makes you to believe in yourself. As long as momentum and positive attitude keeps going you have to make sure that things come into your pocket. This win was a must for us and definitely it is a good start,” he added.

However, he believed they cannot take others easy as all nine teams have tremendous balance.

“Last stages of the league matches definitely there will be some surprises. You cannot take any team easy. The tournament will be alive for six weeks,” he said.

Balaji said KKR bowling coach Wasim Akram and Australian pacer Lee were great influences on the entire attack.

“These two (Lee and Wasim) really mean to our bowling lineup. They share lot of things that they have come up with and that kind of helping hands motivate every young player in the team,” he said.

Asked if Akram has passed on any tricks, Balaji said the former pacer has influenced him in the last two years.

When asked if the middle-order collapse in today’s match was a concern for the team, Balaji said everyone in the dressing room have talent, but success lies in delivering and executing plans 100 per cent.

“If we keep doing this, definitely, results will take care on its own,” he said.

Meanwhile, RCB skipper Daniel Vettori also credited Lee, Kallis and Balaji for their bowling. He also said losing far too many wickets within six overs cost them the game.

Source: Times of India – April 10, 2012

In a brief chat with iplt20.com the Kolkata Knight Riders’ pacer spoke about his passion for music and his mantra for life.

1. Nickname: Binga. There is a chain of electrical stores in Australia called Bing Lee, so I guess I was named after that.
2. Idol: Allan Donald, the South African cricketer.
3. Life’s mantra: Always give your best; always give your hundred percent, and never give up.
4. Favourite cuisine: Ham and pineapple pizza.
5. Favourite beverage: Thanda paani (cold water).
6. I can’t do without: Aside from family, my guitar.
7. Favourite movie: Shawshank Redemption.
8. Favourite band: Kings of Leon.
9. Style statement: Never try too hard.
10. Favourite TV series: Seinfeld.
11. Best pal in cricket: Shane Watson.
12. Best batsman I’ve ever bowled to: Jacques Kallis.
13. Worst batsman I’ve ever bowled to: Glenn McGrath.
14. Favourite delivery to get a wicket off: Yorker.
15. The best bowler in the world: Wasim Akram. He has not only taught me how to bowl different deliveries and how to be patient but just general cricket skills [also]. He has taught me the in-swinger with the new ball.
16. The best batsman in the world: Sachin Tendulkar.
17. Favourite stadium in the world: Sydney Cricket Ground.
18. Most memorable wicket: My first wicket [Sadagoppan] Ramesh from India in 1999 in my first Test.
19. If I weren’t a cricketer I’d be: A Rockstar.
20. Batsman I don’t want to bowl to right now: Jacques Kallis.

Source: IPLT20.com – April 8, 2012 | PRAJAKTA PAWAR

Roach was charged with a Level 2 offence, contrary to clause 2.2.4 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players or Team Officials, which relates to “inappropriate and deliberate physical contact between players in the course of play”.

Roach pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction so there was no need for a formal hearing.

The incident happened in the 39th over of Australia’s innings when Roach twice made physical contact with Lee. Roach first made contact with Lee when he was approaching him to complete a single. He then again gave Lee a nudge as he walked past the Australian to his bowling mark.

Andy Pycroft of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees, explaining his decision, said: “There is no doubt that Kemar deliberately made physical contact with Brett, not once but twice. This is completely unacceptable as there is no place for physical contact in cricket.

“Cricket teaches us to give utmost respect to our opponents at all times irrespective of what the match situation is. This was something which was clearly missing in this particular incident. It is not the sort of example that players should be setting at any time, least of all in a series as high-profile as this one.

“Kemar accepted his mistake and admitted that his behaviour was over aggressive and inappropriate. I am sure he has learnt his lesson and will be more careful in future,” he added.

The charge was laid by on-field umpire Kumar Dharmasena of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, Peter Nero of the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires as well as third umpire Shavir Tarapore and fourth official Gregory Brathwaite.

All Level 2 breaches carry a minimum penalty of a fine equivalent to 50 per cent of a player’s match fee up to a maximum penalty of a suspension for two ODIs or two T20Is or one Test.

Source: ESPN Star – March 26, 2012

Heading into the clash the West Indies knew that a win would secure a shock series victory, their first in ODIs since 1995.

As has been the case in the last three games (the opening one-dayer didn’t quite go to plan for the hosts), the Windies showed great fight but thanks to a fine opening spell from Lee, they were unable to chase down their target of 282.

Having struggled with opening partnerships of 31, 19, 34 and three prior to Sunday’s encounter, David Warner and Shane Watson at last hit their straps after being put into bat by Darren Sammy.

The duo scored at a consistent rate throughout their opening stand of 118, with Warner (69 off 61 balls) initially the slower of the two before pushing on while Watson (66 off 89 balls) was calm and collected.

However, their work and that of number three Peter Forrest (53) was wasted by the middle and lower order as batsmen fell at a steady pace throughout the last 15 overs, with a rain break not helping their cause.

Kemar Roach (three for 53) and Andre Russell (four for 61) were the chief destroyers for the hosts, with the duo going for some tap but collecting a number of wickets courtesy of catches in the deep too.

Australia needed to start strongly and Lee did just that, picking up the wickets of Johnson Charles in his first over and Marlon Samuels in his second, with neither batsman troubling the scorers. Indeed, Lee’s figures at one stage read: three overs, three maidens, two wickets.

From that point it was always going to be hard for the hosts to get back in it.

Adrian Barath stood firm as the Bravo brothers departed and when the opener was dismissed by Xavier Doherty for 42, the West Indies were reduced to 76 for five and in a world of trouble.

After the hitting of Kieron Pollard and Darren Sammy in the fourth ODI, the Australians would no doubt have been weary, and they had ever reason to be.

Pollard smashed two maximums before the big all-rounder tried one big shot too many and holed out to midwicket off Watson’s bowling.

If the Australians thought the game was in the bag then they couldn’t have been more wrong.

Darren Sammy would not go down without a fight and equaled the fastest fifty by a West Indian in ODIs as he racked up 52 off just 20 balls.

Sammy added a further 32 as he hammered the Aussie attack to all ends in a fine display of hitting. The crowd roared with ever shot – was the impossible within reach?

For a moment it seemed it may be but when Sammy skied Ben Hilfenhaus into the leg side with 30 still needed, the dream died, but it did so with dignity, a characteristic not found in many West Indies defeats in previous years.

Source: Cricket365 – March 25, 2012

Lee feels Dravid, who recently retired from international cricket, is an excellent player and he would be missed by his fans across the world.

“The last week has been huge for Indian cricket with two important events, Rahul Dravid retiring from international cricket and Sachin Tendulkar scoring his 100th international century,” Lee wrote in his blog on www.castrolcricket.com.

“They are both brilliant cricketers and are extremely great guys off the field as well. I have a lot of respect for Dravid, he is an excellent cricketer and I have had a good time playing against him.

“It is obviously sad that he is leaving and the fans are going to miss watching him. I’ll certainly miss playing against him,” he said.

The 35-year-old speedster from New South Wales also showered praise on Tendulkar and said: “It is amazing! Almost unbelievable that he has scored a hundred international centuries!

“It’s hard to believe some of the things he has achieved. He is in a class of his own, and he deserves every accolade that comes his way. A truly world class player!,” he added.

Dravid, the second most prolific batsman in the game’s history and India’s middle order bulwark for years, bid adieu to a 16-year-old international cricket earlier this month.

Tendulkar had achieved the milestone of scoring 100 international centuries when he blasted 114 against Bangladesh in the just-concluded Asia Cup.

Source: Times of India – March 23, 2012

Stand-in Australian skipper Shane Watson equates Lee, 35, as the Peter Pan of Australian cricket – still operating at frightening pace when speedsters his age have been put out to pasture.

Most speedsters fade appreciably when they hit the big 30 – with left-armer Mitchell Johnson the latest case – but not Lee.

Watson will again look to spearhead “Binga” ahead of a five match, one-day series against the West Indies starting Friday in St Vincent.

“His body continues to allow him to bowl around the 150km/hour mark,” noted Watson of Lee, now a 212-game one-day specialist with 369 wickets at an impeccable 23.06.

“It is phenomenal how long he has done that for, pretty amazing, hopefully we can continue to have that as he is a big weapon when he is on.”

Source: The Daily Telegraph – March 10, 2012 | RICHARD EARLE

The International Cricket Council’s change to one-day international regulations last year to use a different ball from either end means neither is used for more than 25 overs.

Australian paceman Lee, a veteran of 212 one-day internationals, says the rule all but ensures fast bowlers cannot generate reverse swing to use in the game’s closing overs.

“I’m not a massive fan of it to tell the truth,” the 35-year-old Lee said.

“The only thing the bowler could enjoy with it would be if you’re bowling at the Gabba and it’s a juicy green-top and you could nick ‘em off for 80-odd if it’s swinging and bouncing from both ends.

“It’s totally changed the way one-day cricket’s played now.

“Yes, there’ll be a few times when you can get the ball to reverse-swing at less than 25 overs old but it’s taken a key weapon out of the game. That’s not enjoyable.”

Lee says the game should go back to just using the same ball at both ends throughout the innings, even avoiding the measure where a mandatory change of ball is made after 34 overs.

“If I had my way, we’d go back to the old rules,” he said.

“We are playing on wickets these days that aren’t really conducive to bowling fast and you need everything you can as a fast bowler to try and take wickets.”

The new rule will again be in place during Australia’s five-match series against the West Indies which begins in the Caribbean island of St Vincent on Friday.

Lee is one of just six Australian cricketers to have played in the region and he knows part of his job is imparting that knowledge on a young and inexperienced bowling attack.

“It’s just knowing your skills bowling on slower wickets,” he said.

“I’ll be doing my best to pass the knowledge to the young guys coming through from what I’ve learnt bowling here.”

Meanwhile, paceman Ben Hilfenhaus has completed light training alongside the Australian cricket squad in the Caribbean after missing yesterday’s session due to illness.

Hilfenhaus had been struggling with a virus in the past few days but took part in today’s session at the Arnos Vale Cricket Ground in St Vincent.

The Tasmanian will all but certainly be fit for selection for Friday’s opening match of the five-game one-day series at the same venue.

Fellow quick James Pattinson has also been doing light work but is still considered unlikely to play on Friday due to a buttock strain.

Source: ABC Sport – March 14, 2012