Brett Lee laughs as he describes his possible opening combination with spin bowler Dom Thornely in the Big Bash final tomorrow as the Sydney Sixers’ answer to legendary partners-in-harm Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson.
The pair have bowled in tandem in a few games, including in last weekend’s semi-final victory over Hobart, in which Lee took 2-22 and Thornely 0-15 to help set up tomorrow’s clash with the Perth Scorchers at the WACA Ground – and the pace ace took time out to warn Perth that the semi-retired Thornely, who helps to manage his career, was a huge ”asset” in a star-studded team.
Thornely, 33, has been an unlikely hero in a squad that contained the likes of Lee, Steve Smith, Moises Henriques, Mitchell Starc, Stephen O’Keefe, Stuart MacGill and rising star Nic Maddinson after he retired from first-class cricket 18 months ago to focus on his sports marketing career.
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“He’s been a big asset for us with his batting at the end of the innings, but Dom’s bowling has been great,” Lee said. “We have a laugh about the Lillee-Thomson thing but [the combination] has worked well. I’d like to see Dom play on for NSW after the Big Bash League because he offers plenty.”
Thornely’s decision to continue playing grade cricket for Sydney after he stowed his baggy blue cap was rewarded when Sixers coach Trevor Bayliss identified the all-rounder as a player who would add to the squad.
“Lillee-Thomson – it’s a running joke between Brett and I,” Thornely said. “Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I’d open the bowling with him.
“We have a real good laugh about it, considering we’re very good mates and I’ve done a lot of [career management] work with him, but we’ve found every time we open the bowling together the Sixers win – if one of us gets an early wicket.
“I’m enjoying the experience [of bowling with Lee]. Over the last few years I worked on the off-spin bowling – if that’s what you want to call it – and it’s proven to be successful. I won’t say the spinners have dominated the Big Bash but they’ve played a big part in a lot of the wins by taking the pace off the ball.
“It also means by having a lot more fielders in, it can help build pressure on the batsman [if] you can get the ball in the right areas and bowl a few ‘dots’.”
Lee, who is to spearhead Australia’s T20 attack against India in Sydney on Wednesday, said Bayliss had impressed him and his teammates by creating a winning outfit in which the players gave their all for each other.
“Trevor is consistent,” he said. “With any coaching personnel … they have to be consistent. We’ve found win, lose or draw, Trevor is still the same bloke, and a person like that is a special bloke.”
Lee was adamant Bayliss, who has previously coached NSW and Sri Lanka, had the credentials and people skills craved by national teams.
“The two guys who’ve impressed me as coaches are Steve Rixon, who I consider the best coach I’ve worked under, and Trevor. He has blown me away,” Lee said.
