A broken back couldn’t weaken Brett Lee’s pace

When he suffered a broken back at the age of 16, his Indian doctor had advised Brett Lee to give up cricket.

“But not only did I not give up cricket, but I also invited the same doctor, who is my friend, to my 1999 debut test match against India,” the former Australian cricketer told students and teachers of Government Vocational Higher Secondary School for Girls, Nadakkave, here on Thursday. It was one of the lessons he had learnt from his parents — to treat someone the same way you want to be treated and “never give up.”

Mr. Lee was at the school at the invitation of Faizal and Shabana Foundation which helped renovate the institution to international standards.

When a student asked if Mr. Lee would play cricket with them, he said: “Yes. Next time I am here, I will come and play with you...,” the cricketer-turned-commentator said. Asked if he used to get nightmares about Sachin Tendulkar’s batting, Mr. Lee admitted that he did. But what mattered was if they could do justice to the game he played.

Even though Sachin and he played against each other on the field, both of them were good friends and always complimented each other’s performance.

Mr. Lee also spoke about his interest in music. He said he got into music at the age of 22. “My mother was a great piano player. My siblings were trained in classical piano and guitar...music is something I turn to when I am under pressure,” he said.

Mewsic, the musical therapy charity that he runs in India, works with children suffering from cancer.

“One or two hours of music therapy gives them such a huge relief and solace in the midst of their treatment,” Mr. Lee pointed out.