But the spearhead of Australia’s attack and one the fastest bowlers of his time is clear about one thing that would determine his future.
“If I can’t bowl fast I won’t bowl at all,” he told a media conference in Sydney yesterday, two days after reactivating an elbow injury that is likely to sideline him for the forthcoming home series against the West Indies and Pakistan.
“To be totally honest, I need to get away from the game a bit to work out what my future holds,” Lee, 33, said.
“I want to have this forced rest now, and if surgery needs to happen to fix my elbow, I’ll be looking anywhere between six to 12 to 14 weeks away from the game, which is the perfect opportunity to get away from everything and work out what I want from cricket,” he added.
He did hint that he would be ready for retirement when the time came.
If I don’t play another game for Australia or never play another game of cricket again, I’ll be pleased with what I’ve achieved,” he said.
What he’s achieved are 310 wickets in 76 Tests, placing him fifth on Australia’s all-time list, and 324 wickets in 186 ODIs since his debut in 2002.
“It’s more than I’d have expected when I was the age of 10 with a dream of playing for my country but I still think I’ve got a lot of cricket left in me yet, which is why I’m not making any call about what will happen with my future,” he said.
“There are things I need to weigh up. But there is a lot more to me than a fast bowler,” he added “I’ve had people write me off in the past 10 or 12 years, but I’ve always found a way to come back.” (TC).
