Brett Lee is determined that age and injury shall not weary him. Always positive and flashing a smile from a toothpaste advertisement, he insists his body "still feels really young", but after years as Australia's youthful pin-up he has entered fatherhood and his early 30s. At first there was the pace, but then came the injury and a long layoff. It is a recurring theme in Lee's career as he has aimed for numbers that would result in licence suspensions on any Australian road. His speed thrills, but as he overcomes a second serious ankle problem there is no guarantee he will be able to continue slamming his foot down. Despite planning a post-cricket career in Bollywood - he already has a hit song with You're The One For Me and is learning Hindi - Lee is confident of delaying the all-singing, all-dancing routine for a few more seasons.

One difference in his 2007 recovery was Australia needed his return to health. Previously Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie provided the cover, but the changes in the attack over the past year left Lee as the main man. He has 50 more Tests than Stuart Clark, his new understudy, and unless Gillespie makes an unlikely return he will be the fast-bowling father in a nursery of international novices. Over the past few years his outlook has matured - essential variety has been added to the bouncer-yorker method - and he has become consistent to the point where the team analysts struggled to log a bad ball in some 2006-07 Ashes innings. Twenty England wickets helped him move on from the 2005 defeat, but the summer ended in disappointment when his ankle turned painfully at training in New Zealand.

As Lee completed rehab after an operation to reattach the ligaments, his team-mates reacquainted themselves with the World Cup. Lee was disappointed to miss out, but remained upbeat. "Having a bit of a layoff is good for the body," he said. "Although I'm 30 I still feel like I'm 27 as far as bowling age." When he was really young he was the freshest and fastest at a flicker above or below 100mph, and always seemed on the verge of striking a body or a wicket. When Lee released the throttle and began that smooth acceleration, the spectator stayed his drinking hand. Now the leaping, classical delivery may produce a devastating yorker, a devilish slower ball or a young-Donald outswinger. Add a dash of peroxide, a fruity vocabulary, a trademark jump for joy, a stylish bat, a streak of sadism when bowling at tailenders, a pop group (Six And Out), and an endearing link to a job at a gentleman's outfitters, and you have the 21st century's first designer cricketer - not to mention a priceless pin-up boy.

While Steve Waugh unleashed him in a dramatic opening of 42 wickets in seven Tests before an elbow operation, Ricky Ponting gave Lee a blueprint for lasting success. "The way that Ricky has captained my personal bowling over the last couple of years has just been brilliant," he said early in 2006. "Going back two or three years, I wasn't really sure what they wanted me to do." Lee's next statistical goals are 250 wickets and an average below 30.

Lee's career hasn't always been easy. He struggled against accusations of throwing, bean balls, stress fractures and other injuries, and had a strangely barren first Ashes series in 2001. Three years later he U-turned from ankle surgery, but was stuck in the pits of the dressing room as he ran drinks and sponges in nine consecutive Tests. He came back for the 2005 Ashes series and earned plaudits for his brave performances with bat and ball. He nearly pulled off a win for Australia with a battling 43 at Edgbaston, but his partner-in-crime Michael Kasprowicz fell at the contentious final hurdle. Andrew Flintoff's consoling of Lee seconds after the catch was 2005's defining image.

Less than a year later the duet with Kasprowicz reformed and a nail-biting win over South Africa eased the pain of the previous near-miss. It had been an important summer as he assumed the role of attack leader when McGrath first struggled for impact and then pulled out of tours to South Africa and Bangladesh. Lee moved into the position he had craved since crashing on to the Test scene with 5 for 47 against India, and celebrated 89 international wickets for the season with lawnmower, hunting and leaping celebrations. With McGrath gone for good, Lee has inherited the full-time paternal responsibilities.
Cricinfo staff August 2007

Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year - 2000
Wisden Cricketer of the Year 2006
Test Player of the Year - 2008
Allan Border Medal - 2008

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