Waugh says Lee raised the bar for modern generation fast bowlers

"I really take my hat off for him that even in his last game of cricket at age 34 or 35, he was still bowling 100 per cent flat out and never pulled back at all." Steve Waugh said

London: Former Australian captain Steve Waugh has said fast bowler Brett Lee had an outstanding career, and he had raised the bar for pace bowlers of this generation by bowling consistently at extremely fast speed even during days before retiring.

Waugh said many kids, including his, look up to Lee, and want to follow his footsteps. “I know my son always looked up to him and I am sure that was the case for many kids,” a newspaper quoted Waugh, as saying. “I think he’s had an outstanding career, and in a lot of ways, he has raised the bar for quick bowlers in the future because, generally, quick bowlers after they turn 30, wind down and bowl at 80 per cent pace,’’ he added. ‘‘Brett went at 100 per cent for his whole career, which is incredible to think the strain and the effort he put his body through and the amount of injuries he’d overcome,” he said. Waugh further added: “The resilience that he showed was quite amazing, and I really take my hat off for him that even in his last game of cricket at age 34 or 35, he was still bowling 100 per cent flat out and never pulled back at all. He always bowled to the max and very few bowlers in the history of the game have done that.” “Always flat out – and I think the great thing about Brett was the enthusiasm and the love of the game he always brought to the team. He had a great attitude, it was infectious and people followed what he was doing. He was never a problem in the side, never stepped out of line or was an issue for any captain to look after. He was easy to look after and he gave a lot to the team,” Waugh concluded. ANI