Brett Lee is one of the most threatening bowlers that Australia has ever produced in ODI cricket. He played 221 matches and took 380 wickets at a marvelous average of 23.36.
Let’s take a look at his top 3 spells in ODI cricket by Brett Lee:
5/22 vs South Africa, 2006
In the fourth match of the ODI series between Australia and South Africa, Brett Lee achieved his best bowling figures in ODI cricket. Australia batted first and could not put up as big a total as they would have wanted. South Africa restricted Australia to a low score of 245.
The Aussies needed an outstanding effort from their bowlers to prevent a threatening South African batting order from chasing this target. Brett Lee stepped up at the right occasion and almost single handedly dismissed the whole Proteas top order. Lee scalped the biggest names in the South African bowling lineup including Graeme Smith, Andrew Hall, and Ashwell Prince. Australia won this match comfortably by 59 runs and Brett Lee’s 5-wicket haul had a huge role to play in that.
5/27 vs India, 2000
Whenever Australia faces India Brett Lee would always be one of the performers in that contest. He bowled this brilliant spell against India in Adelaide. The Indian batting lineup had some stalwarts but Brett Lee feared none.
Batting first Australia scored 329 runs and put India under tremendous pressure. India needed to start their run chase on a good note to be able to chase that target but Brett Lee didn’t allow India to get off to a good start. He dismissed the biggest name in that batting order, Sachin Tendulkar. Later on, he caught Hrishikesh Kanitkar right in front of stumps to cripple India’s chase. Eventually, he completed his 5-fer by dismissing lower-order batters like Anil Kumble.
5/27 vs India, 2008
Similar figures against familiar foes. Another class-apart spell that Brett Lee bowled against India, this time in the Commonwealth Series. He annihilated the Indian batting order with bowling, not allowing them to even cross the 200-run mark. The match was curtailed due to rain and ended without any result but Brett Lee graced this match with his killer bowling.
Also read: Ranking Haris Rauf’s top 3 T20I spells