Brett Lee inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame
Source: Cricket Australia – CA Multicultural Media (eLanka)
Australian fast bowler Brett Lee has been named the latest inductee into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, recognising a remarkable international career defined by pace, longevity and sportsmanship.
One of the fastest bowlers the game has seen, Lee represented Australia across all formats with distinction from 1999 to 2012.
In 76 Test matches, he claimed 310 wickets as part of one of the most formidable fast-bowling eras in Australian cricket history.
In One Day Internationals, Lee was a strike weapon of rare consistency, taking 380 wickets in 221 matches at an average of 23.36, placing him among Australia’s all-time great limited-overs bowlers.
He also played 25 T20 Internationals, taking 28 wickets, and was a pioneer of the format’s early international years and a member of the Sydney Sixers team that won the inaugural Big Bash League title.
Lee played a crucial role in Australia’s era of dominance, contributing to three ICC Cricket World Cup titles (1999, 2003 and 2007) and multiple Ashes campaigns.
Renowned for breaking the 160km/h barrier, he combined express pace with durability, finishing his international career with more than 700 wickets for Australia across all formats. He was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2006 and was recognised as Australian Test Player of the Year in 2008, claiming the prestigious Allan Border Medal.
Beyond the statistics, Lee remains one of the most beloved cricketers of his generation and in India, his popularity extended far beyond the boundary through his performances in the Indian Premier League, his connection with fans, and his off-field cultural engagement, including music and film collaborations.
Peter King, Australian Cricket Hall of Fame Chair said:
“Brett Lee’s induction into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame is richly deserved.
“He was not only one of the fastest and most exciting bowlers the world has seen, but also an outstanding ambassador for Australian cricket. Brett’s impact transcended statistics — he inspired fans around the world with the way he played the game, the respect he showed opponents, and the pride he took in representing his country.
“Now a respected commentator, Lee continues to contribute to the game and its communities globally long after his final delivery.
“The Australian Cricket Hall of Fame celebrates players whose careers have left a lasting legacy on the sport.”
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Australian Cricket Hall of Fame Inductees:
* 1996 Fred Spofforth, John Blackham, Victor Trumper, Clarrie Grimmett, Bill Ponsford, Sir Donald Bradman, Bill O’Reilly, Keith Miller, Ray Lindwall and Dennis Lille
* 2000 Warwick Armstrong, Neil Harvey and Allan Border
* 2001 Bill Woodfull and Arthur Morris
* 2002 Stan McCabe and Greg Chappell
* 2003 Lindsay Hassett and Ian Chappell
* 2004 Hugh Trumble and Alan Davidson
* 2005 Clem Hill and Rod Marsh
* 2006 Monty Noble and Bob Simpson
* 2007 Charles Macartney and Richie Benaud
* 2008 George Giffen and Ian Healy
* 2009 Steve Waugh
* 2010 Bill Lawry and Graham McKenzie
* 2011 Mark Taylor and Doug Walters
* 2012 Shane Warne
* 2013 Charlie Turner and Glenn McGrath
* 2014 Mark Waugh and Belinda Clark
* 2015 Adam Gilchrist and Jack Ryder
* 2016 Jeff Thomson and Wally Grout
* 2017 David Boon, Matthew Hayden and Betty Wilson
* 2018 Norm O’Neill, Ricky Ponting and Karen Rolton
* 2019 Cathryn Fitzpatrick, Dean Jones and Billy Murdoch
* 2020 Sharon Tredrea and Craig McDermott
* 2021 Johnny Mullagh (Unaarrimin), Merv Hughes and Lisa Sthalekar
* 2022 Justin Langer and Raelee Thompson
* 2023 Marg Jennings and Ian Redpath
* 2024 Michael Hussey and Lyn Larsen
* 2025 Michael Clarke, Christina Matthews and Michael Bevan
The Australian Cricket Hall of Fame selection panel is made up of representatives from all levels of cricket.
* Peter King – Chair of the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame
* Greg Baum – Cricket Journalist
* Belinda Clark – Former Test captain
* Greg Chappell – Former Test captain
* Todd Greenberg – Cricket Australia CEO
* Ben Horne – Cricket Journalist
* Paul Marsh – Australian Cricketers’ Association CEO
* Mark Taylor – Former Test captain
About the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame:
The Australian Cricket Hall of Fame was first proposed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, the largest sporting club in the country and manager of the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, in 1995. With the support of Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria, the Hall of Fame was officially opened by the then Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable John Howard MP in 1996. Selection philosophy for the hall of fame focuses on the players’ status as sporting legends in addition to their outstanding statistical records. All inductees must have been retired from international cricket for a minimum of five years to be eligible for selection. An inaugural group of 10 players were inducted in 1996, and a further 56 players have been welcomed since.
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