When you’ve been one of the fastest bowlers cricket has ever seen, what do you do for an encore? For Brett Lee, the answer has been a life in constant motion — trading the boundary line for the commentary box, building a new home in Dubai, and staying firmly in the public eye. With 310 Test wickets and a delivery clocked at 161.1 km/h behind him, the former Australian paceman has shaped a second act that rivals his first for variety.
Born: 8 November 1976 ·
Test Wickets: 310 ·
ODI Wickets: 380 ·
Fastest delivery: 161.1 km/h ·
Current home: Dubai, UAE
Quick snapshot
- 310 Test wickets in 76 matches (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- 380 ODI wickets, tied with Glenn McGrath for the most by an Australian (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- Fastest recorded delivery at 161.1 km/h (Talent Corp, speaker agency)
- Exact top speed is debated: some sources cite 161.1 km/h, others 161.8 km/h (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- No official ICC ruling exists on whether his bowling action was ever formally questioned (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- Test debut in 1999 against India (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- Retired from international cricket on 12 July 2012 (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- Moved to Dubai in 2023 (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- Continues as commentator for Fox Sports and Viacom18 (Talent Corp, speaker agency)
- Lives in Dubai with his family (Talent Corp, speaker agency)
- Philanthropy work as ambassador for Gotcha4life (Talent Corp, speaker agency)
Here are 12 key data points about Brett Lee, one pattern: a career built on raw pace, followed by a deliberate pivot into media and family life away from the spotlight.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Brett Lee |
| Date of Birth | 8 November 1976 |
| Role | Fast bowler |
| Teams | Australia, New South Wales, Kolkata Knight Riders |
| Highest Test Speed | 161.1 km/h (100.1 mph) |
| Test Wickets | 310 |
| ODI Wickets | 380 |
| Test Debut | 1999 vs India |
| International Retirement | 12 July 2012 |
| Full Retirement | January 2015 |
| First Wife | Elizabeth Kemp (m. 2006, div. 2009) |
| Current Residence | Dubai, UAE |
What does Brett Lee do now?
Commentary and media roles
- Lee joined the Channel Nine cricket commentating team after retiring from international cricket (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- He currently serves as a commentator for Fox Sports in Australia and Viacom18 in India (Talent Corp, speaker agency)
His media presence doesn’t stop at cricket. Lee has also appeared as a film actor and remains a regular face on Australian sports television. In a YouTube interview with ET NOW, he described life after cricket as enjoyable, saying he likes “doing normal things in life” (ET NOW, business news channel).
Lee traded 145 km/h thunderbolts for a microphone and a quieter routine — but his media gigs keep him inside the game he dominated, just without the physical toll.
Brand ambassador work
- Lee remains a brand ambassador for several organizations, including Gotcha4life (Talent Corp, speaker agency)
- He founded Mewsic in India in 2007, a charitable foundation that established six music centres across the country (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
His Instagram bio sums up his current identity succinctly: “Former Australian Cricketer | Commentator | Brand Ambassador | Dad.” It’s a reminder that the fastest bowler of his generation now measures success in media appearances and parenting, not wicket hauls.
Life in Dubai
- Lee moved to Dubai with his family in 2023 (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- He is renting out his Sydney mansion, with media reports from 2023 confirming the move
The implication: Dubai offers Lee a tax-friendly base, year-round sunshine, and proximity to the cricket circuits of Asia and the Middle East — a strategic home for a global commentator.
Who was Brett Lee’s first wife?
Relationship with Elizabeth Kemp
- Lee married Elizabeth Kemp, an American actress, in June 2006 (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- The couple have a son together (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
Kemp, known for roles in television and film, was a relatively private figure during their marriage. The relationship drew media attention primarily because of Lee’s public profile as Australia’s premier fast bowler at the time.
The marriage to Kemp placed Lee in the tabloid spotlight off the field — a rare distraction for a player whose public image was built on on-field aggression and professionalism.
Divorce and later marriages
- Lee and Elizabeth Kemp separated after two years of marriage and divorced in 2009 (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- He married Lana Anderson in 2014 after one year of dating (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- Lee and Lana Anderson have two children (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
The pattern: Lee’s personal life has followed a trajectory familiar among elite athletes — an early high-profile marriage, a quiet divorce, then a longer-term partnership away from the spotlight. His current family life in Dubai appears stable and deliberately low-key.
Is Brett Lee the fastest bowler in the world?
Recorded speeds and comparisons
- Lee’s fastest recorded delivery is 161.1 km/h (100.1 mph), according to Talent Corp (Talent Corp, speaker agency)
- Shoaib Akhtar holds the official world record at 161.3 km/h (100.2 mph) (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- Some sources cite Lee’s top speed as 161.8 km/h, though this figure is contested (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
During his peak years in the early 2000s, Lee was widely regarded as the fastest bowler in the world alongside Shoaib Akhtar. The difference of 0.2 km/h between their official records is smaller than the margin of error in older speed guns, which fuels ongoing debate among fans.
Other contenders for the title
- Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan) — official record holder at 161.3 km/h
- Shaun Tait (Australia) — recorded at 160.7 km/h
- Jeff Thomson (Australia) — pre-radar era, estimated at 160+ km/h
What this means: Lee sits in the top tier of the fastest bowlers ever, but the margin between him and the official record holder is narrower than a single batsman’s step. The title “fastest” depends on which speed gun you trust and which era you measure by.
Speed gun calibration in the 2000s was inconsistent across venues. Lee’s 161.8 km/h reading at Perth was recorded on a different system than Akhtar’s 161.3 km/h at the 2003 World Cup — making a definitive “fastest” claim technically unprovable.
Did Brett Lee break Piers Morgan’s ribs?
The MCG net session incident
- The incident occurred during a net session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 2010 (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- Piers Morgan, a British broadcaster and journalist, was facing Lee in a friendly net session
- Footage and reports confirm it was a friendly session, not a competitive match
Morgan, who has never been a professional cricketer, stepped into the nets against one of the fastest bowlers in history. The result was predictable: a bruising encounter that became international news.
Piers Morgan’s account
- Morgan claimed in media interviews that Lee broke his ribs during the session
- The claim was widely reported in British and Australian press
- Lee later described the incident as an accident and expressed regret
Morgan’s account painted the session as a near-death experience for a weekend cricketer. The story became tabloid gold because it pitted a media personality against a sporting icon — and the body won.
Outcome and public reaction
- The incident remains one of the most-shared Brett Lee stories on social media
- No legal action was taken; both parties treated it as a mishap
- The story has been retold in countless interviews and retrospectives
The pattern: the rib incident encapsulates Lee’s entire career in a single anecdote — an exceptionally fast bowler whose deliveries could hurt even when they weren’t meant to.
Where does Brett Lee currently live?
Move to Dubai
- Lee moved to Dubai with his family in 2023 (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- He lives there with his wife Lana Anderson and their two children
- Dubai offers proximity to cricket commentary opportunities in Asia and the Middle East
For a former international cricketer who spent decades travelling between Australian stadiums, Dubai provides a central hub. The city’s tax regime and year-round training facilities are an added draw for retired athletes.
Sydney mansion rental
- Lee listed his Sydney mansion for rent in 2023, confirming the move was permanent
- The property is a multi-bedroom home in a prestigious Sydney suburb
- Reports from 2023 indicate the rental was managed through luxury real estate agents
The implication: Lee is not just testing life in Dubai — he’s committed to it financially. Renting out his Sydney home signals a long-term relocation rather than a temporary stay.
If Lee’s commentary contracts with Indian broadcasters (Viacom18) continue to grow, Dubai’s geographic and time-zone advantages over Sydney will only become more pronounced. Don’t expect a return to Australia any time soon.
Timeline
- — Born in Wollongong, New South Wales (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- — Test debut against India (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- — Bowls up to 160 km/h, key in World Cup win (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- — Divorce from Elizabeth Kemp (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- — Piers Morgan rib incident at MCG net session (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- — Retires from international cricket (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- — Retires from all cricket after Big Bash League (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- — Moves to Dubai, lists Sydney mansion for rent (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
What’s confirmed and what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Brett Lee played 76 Tests, taking 310 wickets (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- He was the fastest bowler in the world during his peak, but not the all-time fastest — Shoaib Akhtar holds the official record (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- He broke Piers Morgan’s ribs in a net session, confirmed by Morgan and media reports (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- He lives in Dubai as of 2024 (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
What’s unclear
- Exact details of his highest bowling speed — some sources cite 161.8 km/h, others 161.1 km/h (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
- Whether his bowling action was ever formally questioned by the ICC — no official ruling exists (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)
In their own words
Former Australian Cricketer | Commentator | Brand Ambassador | Dad
— Brett Lee, Instagram bio
I like doing normal things in life.
— Brett Lee, interview with ET NOW (YouTube, business news channel)
Brett Lee was one of the fastest bowlers in the world during his prime, consistently clocking speeds above 150 km/h.
— ESPNcricinfo profile (career overview)
For the average reader following Australian cricket from afar, the shift from “fastest bowler alive” to “dad in Dubai who commentates on weekends” may seem abrupt. But the numbers tell a different story. With 310 Test wickets at 30.81 and 380 ODI wickets at 23.36 (Talent Corp, speaker agency), Lee earned the right to choose his second act. For every young fast bowler in Australia who idolised him, the lesson is clear: you can dominate with pace, then walk away on your own terms — or, in Lee’s case, walk toward a microphone and a life far from the crease.
Related reading: **Ethan Strange: Biography, Salary, Relationship & NRL Career**
Frequently asked questions
What is Brett Lee doing now?
Brett Lee works as a cricket commentator for Fox Sports in Australia and Viacom18 in India, and serves as a brand ambassador for several organisations including Gotcha4life. He lives in Dubai with his family.
Why did Brett Lee move to Dubai?
Lee moved to Dubai in 2023 for a combination of lifestyle, tax, and professional reasons. The city offers proximity to his commentary commitments in Asia and the Middle East, year-round sunshine, and a central location for international travel.
How many wickets did Brett Lee take in ODIs?
Brett Lee took 380 wickets in 221 ODI matches at an average of 23.36. He tied with Glenn McGrath for the most ODI wickets by an Australian.
What was Brett Lee’s fastest ball?
Lee’s fastest recorded delivery is 161.1 km/h (100.1 mph), though some sources quote 161.8 km/h. The difference stems from variations in speed gun calibration across different venues and eras.
Did Brett Lee ever bowl a 100 mph ball?
Yes. Multiple speed readings have placed Lee above 100 mph (160.9 km/h), with his officially recognised fastest being 161.1 km/h, which converts to 100.1 mph.
Is Brett Lee married?
Lee is currently married to Lana Anderson. They wed in 2014 and have two children together. He was previously married to American actress Elizabeth Kemp from 2006 to 2009.
Who is the actress Elizabeth Kemp to Brett Lee?
Elizabeth Kemp is Brett Lee’s first wife. She is an American actress, and the couple married in June 2006, separated after two years, and divorced in 2009. They have one son together.
How old is Brett Lee?
Brett Lee was born on 8 November 1976, making him 48 years old as of 2024.
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Charlotte Foster covers culture, lifestyle and society across Australia for Australia Watch.