Former Australia pacer Brett Lee picks best three batsmen he played against

Former Australia pacer Brett Lee was one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket in the 2000s. Brett Lee, who made he debut against India in 1999, was known for his sleek action and sheer pace that could create problem for any batsmen. Over the years, the pacer had duels with players like Sachin Tendulkar, Virendra Sehwag, Brian Lara, Jacques Kallis, Sangakkara and many more. But when Lee was asked about the best he played against, he picked three.

Brett Lee, a two time world cup champion with Australia in 2003 and 2007, choose India’s Sachin Tendlkar, Brian Lara from West Indies and South Africa’s Jacques Kallis as the three top batsmen he ever played against.

Sachin Tendulkar, who is till now the leading run getter in Tests and ODIs by some margin and only cricketer to score 100 international centuries and took part in 200 Test matches, was picked by Lee as the best batsman he came up against.

“I would think of Sachin Tendulkar. Why Sachin? He had that extra time. You know you play against great players and feel that Sachin had the extra time,” Lee told former Zimbabwe cricketer Pommie Mbangwa in a video interaction for Cricbuzz.

“But, you know he was actually batting on the popping crease. But it felt time like he had that extra time. In my opinion, Sachin was the best batsman in the world,” he said.

The Australian speedster reserved high praise for Brian Lara, stating that the West Indies legend could hit the balls in all the direction.

“Then there was Brian Lara. He was just so flamboyant. You bowl six balls at one place and he would hit in six different places,” Lee said.

Brian Lara called it a day with 11,953 runs un 131 Tests and 10,405 runs in 299 ODIs for the caribbean side.

Dubbing former South African Jacques Kallis as the best cricketer he has ever played with, Brett Lee said Kallis could open the bowling or find his way in any team just as a batsman.

“I have always said that Sachin was the best batsman ever, but in my opinion the best cricketer that game has seen, and I would add that I haven’t seen Gary Sobers play, I have watched highlights and all, but from the players I have watched and played against, it has to be Jacques Kallis. He was the greatest complete cricketer. He could open the bowling or play just as a batsman. He also caught those many catches at slips,” Lee said.

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