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Brett Lee (born 8 November 1976) is a former Australian international cricketer and film actor. He is a former Channel Nine Commentator. During his international career, Lee was recognised as one of fastest bowler in the world of cricket along with Shoaib Akhtar. He is known for his consistency of pace, going over 150 kilometres per hour (93 mph) throughout his career. His quickest delivery was 161.3 km/h (100.2 mph) in a test match against the West Indies in 2002, but because they were playing in a charity match, it was not officially recognised as the fastest delivery ever. After that the world record for the fastest delivery ever is held by Shoaib Akhtar at 161.4 km/h (100.3 mph). Lee's quickest delivery in ODIs is 161.1 km/h (100.1 mph) playing against New Zealand in 2005. He is also widely regarded as one of the best pace bowlers ever to have played the sport. Lee was known for reaching a hundred miles an hour many times throughout his cricketing career. In each of his first two years, he averaged less than 20 with the ball, but since then has mostly achieved figures in the early 30s. He was also known as an athletic fielder and useful lower-order batsman, with a batting average exceeding 20 in Test cricket. Lee finished his Test with 310 wickets, and his One Day International career with 380 wickets.
Lee featured in the Australian teams that won the 2003 and 2007 World Cups. He announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket on 12 July 2012, having played his first Test in 1999. He subsequently declined to renew his contract with his home state side New South Wales, but continued to play Twenty20 matches for several seasons after, most notably in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Big Bash League. In January 2015, Lee announced his retirement from all forms of the game, effective at the end of the 2014–15 Big Bash League season.
