Australia's star cricketer Brett Lee Australian fast bowler Brett Lee, he with the blonde poster boy looks, appears set to capitalise upon his popularity in India
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Australian fast bowler Brett Lee, he with the blonde poster boy looks, appears set to capitalise upon his popularity in India, even as he still hopes he will be able to play for Australia in next year's Cricket World Cup in the sub-continent.
According to Lee's manager Neil Maxwell: "He has the earning potential of $20 million (approx Rs 80 crore) in the next six to seven years.
"There is such a huge market over there ufffd where Bollywood stars sign up for $49 million ufffd he has such a broad range: there are limitless opportunities. Over there it's like Beatles stuff, he's mobbed with phone numbers stuffed in his pockets.
"Sitting in the (Channel Nine) commentary box isn't the only thing on the fast bowler's agenda. He hopes to branch into lifestyle shows ufffd his interests include camping, fishing and his farm in the Southern Highlands".
People in the know say the fast bowler, who has just signed up with the television network (Nine), has a broad range of Indian ventures, spanning from a clothing line, modelling, a television contract and roles in Bollywood films.
Lee's album of duets with Asha Bhonsle achieved amazing success and he now has a new band, White Shoe Theory, which has lined up eight gigs in India.
Now 33, Lee is single father of three-year-old son Preston by Liz Kemp, his divorced podiatrist wife who left him two years ago and now lives a few suburbs away from Lee outside Sydney.
"It's a matter for us of doing the right thing by Preston," Lee told a Sydney newspaper over the weekend.
"I won't be away from Preston for more than a week at a time and Preston has travelled to India with me ufffd he's even seen the Taj Mahal which I haven't."
Lee insists his cricketing career is not over yet.
"I want to play for Australia again ufffd my goal is to get to the 2011 World Cup playing for Australia, so if I can tick that box, I might move on.
"But if, for some reason", he says, "through injury or anything, I can't get back, then OK, I'll be disappointed but it won't be the end of the world because I'll have so many other things waiting to happen.
"I want to achieve that goal but if it doesn't happen I won't be suicidal,' Lee says.
"I don't want to be the guy who got to 33 and thought, "Well I haven't anything behind me. I haven't worked. I didn't finish my HSC ufffd "what now?" which happens to so many sportspeople because they are so focused on achieving their goals.
"I suppose I've made a conscious effort to do this stuff before I started. A lot of this stuff is on the backburner for when cricket finishes."
Meanwhile, owning a farm, with 100 head of Angus cattle, a dream since he was 10 years old, is a magnificent obsession.
"I never feel more at peace than when I'm driving down to the farm," he says. It's the only time I ever wind down," Lee says.
Lee has been to India more than 35 times but says he "can't get enough of its culture, music and fashion".
"I don't know what it is ufffd I just love the people and I have just taken a real interest in it and want to do a lot more over there with the charities. We worked with Deakin University there helping to put clean drinking water in the communities.
"Spending time through a leadership coaching role ufffd the kids with nothing behind them, just have this love for cricket ufffd it's an incredible country," Lee says.
"You can walk into the most amazing seven-star hotel and walk out the door and find immense poverty. Yet, in saying that, these kids are happy. All you do is smile at them and their eyes light up."
According to Surjit Singh Gujral, renowned restaurateur ufffdu00a0 two of his restaurants in Sydney are veritable cricket museums and the favourite eateries of cricketers from all over the world, journalists and administrators ufffd "Brett Lee's love for India has made him beloved by Indians. Common with all commoners, he has a heart of gold.
"All Indian kids want to become Brett Lee. He always mixes with the local people when he is in India, he gets out and plays with the kids and that has built his reputation as a great man," Gujral says with unabashed approbation.
(Source: The Sun-Herald)
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