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Dennis Lillee – one of Australia’s (and Cricket’s) greatest fast bowlers – by Anthony O’Neil –

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Dennis Lillee

 Dennis Lillee, Dennis Keith Lillee in full, is an Australian former cricket professional player. Dennis Lillee is recognized by many as the 鈥渙utstanding fast bowler of his generation.鈥�

Lillee was born on 18th July 1949 in the Western suburbs of Subiaco in Perth, Australia. It can be argued successfully that Lille is one of the greatest cricket players to grace the sport. He has broken and set records and won several personal and group or team awards.

However, besides being a top bowler, Lillee was also one of the most intriguing and entertaining characters in the sport. The following is a list of 10 facts about the interesting life of Dennis Lillee.

1. His Early Years in Cricket Were Slowed Down by A Severe Injury and Illnesses

Lillee first felt a sharp pain in his back for the first time during the 1972-1973 season. This was during a test match against Pakistan which he played through the pain. 

Later, during the tour of the west indies, Lillee would break down completely due to this injury. He was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his lower vertebrae which ruled him out of cricket for a while. While in recovery he played club cricket for Perth Cricket Club leading them to the final.

During his forced leave due to injury, there was a lot of speculation that his cricket career was over. However, he underwent intensive physiotherapy under the instructions and directions of sports scientist Frank Pyke. 

Lillee was able to return to full fitness and even remodeled his bowling action in the process. He returned officially during the 1974-75 Test cricket for the Ashes series. 

2. Dennis Lillee Formed a Formidable Partnership with Jeff Thompson 

Statue of Lillee at the Melbourne Cricket Ground – by Mattinbgn –

On his return from injury, Lillee was paired with Jeff Thompson during the 1974-1975 Test Cricket. Thompson was then, a New South Wales fast bowler. The pair went on to form one of the most effective and lethal bowling combinations in Test cricket.

They played a significant role during the season and were a major part of Australia鈥檚 4-1 win in the Test. They were so rampant and effective that the media began developing tag lines about them. 

The Sunday Telegraph Wrote: 鈥淎shes to Ashes, dust to dust, if Thomson don’t get ya, Lillee must.鈥�

3. Made His Cricket Debut At 20 

In the 1969鈥�70 season, Lillee made his first-class debut for Western Australia at the age of 20. He made an impression with his raw pace and his journey in Cricket took off. 

With 32 wickets, he finished as Western Australia’s highest wicket-taker in his maiden season. Considering this was his breakout season, these were and are very impressive numbers.

4. He Went into A Game With An Aluminium Bat

During a match in 1979, Lillee produced one of if not the most controversial acts in his career. It was in a match between Australia and England at the WACA Ground where he went into the match with an aluminium bat. 

It is worth noting that Lillee was not breaking any rules. This is because there was no rule against using such a bat. The English captain Mike Brearley complained to officials that the bat was damaging the ball and against the spirit of the game. 

After a heated discussion with Brearley and the officials, Lillee agreed to give up the bat albeit reluctantly. He angrily threw the bat and to up a wooden one. 

Months later, the rules of the game were amended and it was specified that all bats should be wooden. 

5. Lillee Was Involved in a Betting Scandal as A Player

In 1981, on the tour of England, Australia played England. The odds for the game were 500-1 against England coming out as winners in the game. Lillee and his teammate, Rod Marsh, saw this at the game and thought that those were ridiculous odds. 

Through a third party, they each went on and placed wagers on England. England fell behind during the game but managed to pull off a comeback and win the match. Consequently, Lillee and Marsh won 7,500 pounds between them from the result.

They would later describe the actions as a joke. There were no sanctions or censures from their teams or sporting agencies. However, due to match-fixing becoming rampant in cricket, in the 90s, this scenario has been re-examined by many. 

6. After Retirement He Became a Coach

Dennis Keith Lillee – by Eva Rinaldi –

After retiring, Lillee invested his time in developing the next generation of fast bowlers. Lillee devoted himself to teaching and coaching bowlers in the 1990s and the early years of the twenty-first century. 

Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, and Shaun Tait are three of his most renowned students. He was also highly associated with the operations of the Indian MRF Pace Foundation. 

7. Has been Referenced in Some Popular Songs

Such was Lillee鈥檚 prowess that artists were referencing him in their lyrics. One such song is Blue Guitar by Ian Campbell Smith. In the song, the line reads; 鈥淚 hit a six off Dennis Lillee and I clean bowled Gavaskar.

One of the other references was on the song by Men at Work known as No Restrictions. The line on this song reads; 鈥淗ear the cricket calling, switch on the TV, sit and stare for hours, and cheer Dennis Lillee. 

8. Has Several Honors to His Name

Bust of Dennis Lillee at Sunbury, Victoria – by Mattinbgn –

It is a well-known fact that Lillee is a huge fan of Queen Elizabeth. In 1981, he was honored by being conferred with Membership of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). 

Lillee was selected for the Australian Test Team of the Century in 1996. In the same year, he was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.

In 2010, Lillee was also honored in Australia with an official appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia during the Australia Day Honors. 

9. A Record Breaker

Dennis Lillee – the great Australian fast bowler – walks into the outfield during the 3rd Test at Headingley – by Anthony O’Neil –

In 1981, Australia faced the West Indies in a test match. Lillee would be the hero on the second day when he became the highest wicket-taker with 310. 

He broke a record that was up until then held by Lance Gibbs a West Indies spinner. His record would be broken 5 years later in 1986 by Ian Botham. 

Dennis Lillee is also the first bowler to take 350 Test wickets and 100 ODI wickets.

10. He Has a Stand Named After Him at The WACA Ground

The Lillee-Marsh Stand at the WACA Ground – by Hamedog –

The partnership between Lillee and Rod Marsh, the wicketkeeper, was legendary. A total of 95 Test matches are marked on the scorecard as “c Marsh b Lillee,” (Caught Marsh bowled Lillee). This remains an unbroken partnership record for the wicket-keeper and bowler to date.

 Coincidentally, Marsh finished his career with 343 catches and 12 stumpings, while both players finished with 355 Test dismissals. The Lillee-Marsh Stand was a new grandstand at the WACA Ground that was named in honor of the two players by the Western Australian Cricket Association in 1988.