November 20-23, 1997
The blonde bombshell arrives
The younger brother of Australia international Shane Lee makes his
Sheffield Shield debut for New South Wales against Western Australia at the SCG. Takes three wickets and the opposition rate him the fastest bowler they've faced in Australia.
1999-2000
A tearaway beginning
Lee overcomes stress fractures in the back to emerge a contender for national selection. He is named the twelfth man for the Perth Test against Pakistan but makes his debut against India at the
MCG. Rattles a clueless India with his tearaway pace by taking a five-wicket haul in the first innings, including a wicket in his first over. Ends the series with 13 wickets in two Tests. Takes his maiden
one-day five-wicket haul against the Indians in Adelaide on Australia Day. Storms New Zealand with
18 wickets in three Tests in his first away series.
December 2000-August 2001
Injury calling
His first major injury setback. After taking seven wickets against West Indies at the WACA, he suffers a stress fracture to the lower back and misses the rest of the series. Returns for the one-day tri-series but injures his elbow and hence, misses the historic tour of India. Returns for the Ashes tour.
2003
One-day wonder
Finishes the leading wicket-taker in the 2002-03 VB Series with 18 wickets, including a match-winning 5 for 30 in a tense
second-final against England. Lee has an outstanding World Cup in South Africa and
finishes second in the overall wicket charts with 22 scalps at 17.90. Carries his form to the West Indies where he finishes with 17 wickets.
2003-04
The designated drinks man
In the absence of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, Lee has to carry the bowling attack but finds the going tough against India. Returning from an abdominal injury, he takes eight wickets in two Tests but at an expensive 59.50 per wicket. Suffers an ankle injury and misses the tour of Sri Lanka. He's out for nearly five months and misses yet another Test tour of India. The return of Michael Kasprowicz puts enormous pressure on Lee to win back his place and as a result, he spends many months in the sidelines as a twelfth man.
2005
A lifeline
Returns to the Test line-up after an 18-month hiatus. Bowls his heart out in the
2005 Ashes in England, taking 20 wickets in five games. The decline of Kasprowicz and Jason Gillespie gives Lee a lifeline. Nearly wins the
Edgbaston Thriller with the bat. Returns to top form against West Indies later that year, leading the wicket charts with 18 wickets at 20.94.
2006
No Pigeon but Lee delivers
In McGrath's absence, Lee shoulders the bowling attack in South Africa, taking 17 wickets in the three Tests. He and Kasprowicz seal a nail-biter at the
Wanderers. Takes his 200th Test wicket in the second match at Kingsmead.
2007-08
The spearhead
Leads the bowling attack following the twin retirements of McGrath and Warne. Leading wicket-taker in the two-Test series against Sri Lanka with 16 scalps. Tops the wicket charts against the Indians later that summer with
24 wickets in four Tests. The golden run continues in the West Indies where he's the
leading wicket-taker again. Takes his 300th ODI wicket in the same tour in
Grenada.
2009
Keeping the surgeons busy again
Undergoes a foot surgery at the start of the year before a side strain forces him out of the Ashes. He returns for the one-dayers in England but suffers yet another injury setback. He undergoes an elbow surgery and ends the year without playing a single Test. There are fears that he may never bowl again.
February 23, 2010
Farewell to Test cricket
A steady spate of injuries takes its toll on Lee's body, and he announces that he can no longer keep up with the demands of five-day cricket. His
retirement from Tests is also aimed at prolonging his ODI career, especially keeping the 2011 World Cup in mind.
April 15, 2010
IPL cut short
April 28, 2010
Out of the World Twenty20
Lee makes it to the Australian World Twenty20 squad, but is
forced to withdraw due to a muscle strain in his right forearm. Ryan Harris is his replacement.
October 2010-January 2011
The comeback process
Lee signs up with Wellington to play in the domestic Twenty20 season in New Zealand, and also puts in some fine performances for New South Wales, including a haul of
5 for 47 in a tense win against Western Australia in a Ryobi Cup match. The selectors are satisfied with his form and
name him in the 2011 World Cup squad.
January 12, 2011
A less-than-impressive return
Playing his first international match since October 2009, Lee goes for plenty in a Twenty20 game against England, conceding
41 off four overs. Australia lose by one wicket.
January-February 2011
Success against England
In the seven-match ODI series just before the World Cup, Lee is the
highest wicket-taker among bowlers from either team, taking 11 at an average of 24. It includes a haul of
3 for 27 in Sydney, which wins him the last of his 15
Man-of-the-Match awards in ODIs.
March 19, 2011
Four-for in vain
It's one of the most compelling performances of the World Cup, but it ends in defeat for Australia. Lee takes
4 for 28, but Australia lose to Pakistan by four wickets, ending their 34-match unbeaten run in World Cup matches. One defeat later, Australia are out of the World Cup. Lee ends up with 13 wickets in seven games, the
highest haul among Australians.
April 9, 2011
The 200-ODI milestone
Australia's first ODI after the 2011 World Cup - against Bangladesh
in Mirpur - is also the 200th in Lee's career, as he becomes the ninth Australian to achieve that landmark.
August 20, 2011
Matchwinner in Colombo
Lee's 4 for 15, along with Xavier Doherty's four-wicket haul, helps Australia to an easy five-wicket win against Sri Lanka
in Colombo. It's the last of his 23 hauls of four or more wickets in ODIs.
October 10, 2011
Out of South Africa
Lee is diagnosed with appendicitis and is
ruled out of the Twenty20 and one-day series in South Africa.
February 5, 2012
And now, a broken foot
Lee suffers a
broken foot during a Twenty20 match against India, and is initially ruled out of the CB Series. He subsequently ends up playing seven matches in the tournament despite the injury.
June 29, 2012
Australia's joint leading ODI wicket-taker
Lee's dismissal of Ian Bell
at Lord's takes him to 380 ODI wickets, which equals Glenn McGrath's mark. While McGrath needed 249 matches to take 380, Lee has achieved it in his 219th match.
July 13, 2012
Farewell to international cricket
Lee, 35,
announces his retirement from all international cricket, but says that he will continue to play in the IPL and the Big Bash League.