Dennis Lillee is one of the most well-known cricket players ever. In 1949, he was born in Subiaco, Western Australia. He played for the West Australian Cricket Club and represented Australia in Test and One Day Internationals. His quick bowling action and ability to hurl the ball at high speeds were well-known. He also led Australia in one Test match as captain. He is considered one of the best fast bowlers of all time and was one of the first to use the now-famous “slingshot” action.
During his international career, Lillee took 355 wickets in 70 Test matches for an average of 23.92. In 63 ODIs, he also got 103 wickets. In 1982, Wisden named him Cricketer of the Year; in 1994, he was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame. He was put in the ICC Hall of Fame in 2002.
He was also a successful coach. From 1984 to 1998, he led the Australian and Sri Lankan teams. He also helped start the MRF Pace Foundation in India, which has trained some of the best fast bowlers in the world. Lillee has been a strong supporter of the players’ association and a strong voice for the rights of cricket players. He is also a strong supporter of the movement against doping. He has been an inspiration to cricket players for many years, and his legacy will last forever.
Dennis Lillee Biography:
- Real Name: Dennis Keith Lillee
- Other/Nickname: Lillee, Dennis Keith, FOT
- Profession: Coach and Cricketer
- Famous for: Fast Bowling
- Dennis Lillee Batting Style: Right-handed
- Best Performance: 8-29 and 5-84 in the first Test against England at the WACA in 1974
- Dennis Lillee Net Worth: $11 Million
- Instagram Handle: @lilleedennis
Dennis Lillee Physical Status:
- Height: 5′ 11½”
- Weight: 59 Kgs approx.
- Hair Colour: Black
Dennis Lillee Personal Life:
- Date Of Birth: July 18, 1949
- Place Of Birth: Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Nationality: Australian
- Hometown: Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- College: University of Western Australia, Western Australian Institute of Sport
Dennis Lillee Family Statistics:
- Marital Status: Married
- Dennis Lillee Wife: Helen Lillee (1978)
- Dennis Lillee Children: Dean Lillee and Adam Lillee
- Dennis Lillee Parents: Keith Lillee and Shirley Lillee
- Religion: Christian
- Other Hobbies: Golf, fishing, sailing, cricket, photography, traveling and cooking.
Dennis Lillee Career Statistics:
Test Debut: vs. England at Adelaide Oval, Jan 29, 1971
ODI Debut: vs. England at Emirates Old Trafford, Aug 24, 1972
Dennis Lillee Achievements:
- In 1973, he was selected as one of Wisden Cricketers of the Year.
- In 1981, he was given the honorary title of “Member of the Order of the British Empire” (MBE).
- In 1996, he was honoured alongside nine others as one of the first entrants into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.
- He cut the official Australian Test Team of the Century.
- In 2000, he was given the Australian Sports Medal for all he had done in the world of sports.
- During the Australia Day Honours of 2010, he was inducted into the Order of Australia.
- In 1985, Lillee was recognized for his achievements in the world of sports and honoured with a place in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
- In 2009, his name was added to the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
- Out of his total of 70 test matches, Dennis Lillee finished with 355 wickets. The fast bowler took 103 doors in 63 One Day International matches. In 198 first-class matches, he took 882 wickets.
Here are some of the lesser-known facts about Dennis Lillee:
- The Men at Work song “No Restrictions” (Cargo, 1983) included the lyrics “Hear the cricket calling, switch on the TV, sit and look for hours, and applaud Dennis Lillee.”
- The Iain Campbell Smith song “Blue Guitar” also pays tribute to him. He sings, “I struck a six off Dennis Lillee, and I clean bowled Gavaskar,” detailing two unbelievable feats. Smith often alters the lyrics in the United States to “I scored 37 points off of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.”
- In 1973, he got a stress fracture in his back that almost ended his bowling career. Lillee made sure that he not only got better but also got back on the Australian team.
- Dennis Lillee trained Indian fast bowlers at the MRF Pace foundation after he retired. His guidance and counselling have helped Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan, and Ishant Sharma.
- In the late 1980s, Lillee turned down Sachin Tendulkar, an Indian fast bowler with a short height.
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