Aussie pacer says he's enjoying every format and does not need to retire from t20s to prolong career like skipper Ricky Ponting
Aussie pacer says he's enjoying every format and does not need to retire from t20s to prolong career like skipper Ricky Ponting
The inner fire burns fiercely for both Ricky Ponting and Brett Lee, but it takes interesting different forms.
The Australian Test captain has quit Twenty20 cricket to prolong his career because of a single-minded determination to regain the mythical Ashes from Old Enemy England in England in 2013, when he will be 38.
For 32-year old pace spearhead Lee it is an insatiable hunger to represent his country after missing the last Ashes series that is driving him to continue playing all three forms of the game.
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"Definitely not", was Lee's laconic reply to a query from newsmen as to whether he intends emulating his captain's example in order to extend his career.
"Every opportunity I get to play for Australia, I'm always excited about it. I'm not even thinking about the schedule. It's great to be out there playing "Maybe 12, 18 months down the track when we've had a pretty hard schedule we might have to look at what's going on, but at this point in time definitely not.
"If I'm 37 and trying to bowl 150km/h, you do the maths," he said.
Lee broke down in last year's Boxing Day Test against South Africa with foot and ankle problems, which necessitated surgery.
He suffered a side strain during his comeback on the eve of the recently concluded Ashes series in England in May and missed the first three matches.
To compound his frustration, Lee was dropped from the playing team in the fourth and fifth Tests despite declaring himself "100 per cent fit".
Lee's hunger and passion were manifest when he was recalled to the side for the ongoing one-day series, in which Australia lead 3-0 after yesterday's 6-wicket win at Southampton. His pace was impressive in the second game at Lord's where he took two wickets for 22.
"If I'm enjoying that, I'm still having that buzz and that adrenalin when that happens, well I'll keep playing," he told an Australian newspaper.
"I've always been lucky with the way I can wipe the slate clean after I've been injured. I've always found a positive way to come back and back myself.
"As a cricketer without being arrogant, you've got to have that confidence you can do the business on the pitch otherwise you shouldn't be out there playing."
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Speaking of retirement, England's talismanic, but injury-prone, all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is moving to Dubai during his rehabilitation from knee surgery.
The 31-year old underwent micro fracture surgery on his right knee the day after the Ashes-deciding Test at the Oval last month, which was his swansong in the five-day game.
The dashing all-rounder will move his family to the desert before Christmas as he tries to get his battle-scarred body shipshape for the rigours of the one-day game.
"It's always easier doing rehab in warm weather and that's the main reason why we've decided to go to Dubai,"u00a0 Flintoff said.
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