Brett Lee had the X-factor

Brett Lee decided to draw the curtain on a stellar career last week - a career not only highlighted by cricketing achievements but also by the fame that came along with it; Lee's popularity is matched by only a few in cricket, he had it all, says David Sygall in the Sydney Morning Herald.

For Lee's international career, which ended abruptly on Friday, will be recalled by those close to him as being about much more than what happened on the field. Between winning every cricket reward on offer, the taker of 310 Test and 380 ODI wickets ended up jamming with Neil Finn, Diesel and Jimmy Barnes, receiving unexpected calls from Elton John, drinking beers with Prince Harry and releasing No.1 songs with Indian icons.