[ad_1]
India’s tour of Australia in 1999-2000 was a disaster. The gap in quality between the two sides was brutally exposed by the Australians as the Indians went 0-3 in the test series. The impact of the loss was immense and acted as a catalyst for various changes to come in Indian cricket in the years to come.
Captain Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman were two hitters who held firm on that tour. But they also had their bad days. One of the highlights of that series for the hosts was the discovery of a great fast bowler, who would terrorize hitters for the next decade with his pace and enthusiasm.
23-year-old Brett Lee was unleashed against the Indians by Australian selectors and the express pacemaker was immediately successful. He collected a five wicket run in the first innings of his Debut Test and then collected 13 wickets in the two Tests he played against India. But Tendulkar’s great gate was still elusive.
Also read | “Worse than the coronavirus”: Gayle attacks Sarwan after Tallawah’s departure
Lee would make his ODI debut in the triple series that followed, which included Pakistan, and he would eventually get the prized scalp in Game 10 of the series in Adelaide. Chasing a gigantic goal of 330 to win the match, all India’s hopes rested on Tendulkar’s shoulders and it was young Lee who fired him.
Lee sent Tendulkar back 18 and then claimed his first five-wicket run at ODI in that game. But that was not the first time that Lee had fired Tendulkar in his life. Lee was inducted into the Australian Prime Minister’s XI squad for a touring game with the Indian in Canberra before the test series and it was there that Lee had first fired the big hitter. He recently recalled memories of pulling Tendulkar out for the first time while speaking on the Star Sports show “Cricket Connected.”
“I was 22 years old when I had my first opportunity to play against the Little Master. I killed him and thought he was done. I didn’t mind a test match as I was so happy to get Sachin Tendulkar out, “said Lee.
Brett Lee would continue to play a leading role in Australia’s World Cup triumph in 2003, but he was unlucky enough to win the crown a second time in 2007 as he was ruled out due to injury. He collected over 300 wickets in both Tests and ODI.
