On 26 December 1999, the Australian selectors decided to play Lee instead of an injured Michael Kasprowicz. Lee had already left an impression on his team-mates with his express pace and accuracy. Steve Waugh in particular was mighty impressed with ‘Binga’ who had started to scare his own team-mates at the nets session with his breath taking pace.

It was the sixth over of the Test match and without any hesitation Tugga threw the ball at Lee who was all set to make his presence felt at the international scenario. It took him only four balls to scalp his first Test wicket – Sadgopan Ramesh, who was clean bowled. Lee’s four other victims were Rahul Dravid, Mannava Prasad, Ajit Agarkar and Javagal Srinath. Indian batsmen had no answer to Binga’s furious pace and he took a five-wicket haul at Melbourne in his first Test match!

Lee dismissed Dravid and Srinath in the second innings as well. He couldn’t have asked for a better start.