It seems unusual for a man who is a pop star in a foreign country, but Brett Lee is Australian cricket’s quiet achiever.

A cricket legend, on the subcontinent his artistic endeavours create just as much buzz as what he could do with a new ball.

His 2001 duet with Asha Bhosle went to No.2 on the Indian charts, and he will appear in the film UNindian, shot in Sydney and set for release in 2015.

• We don’t want to drop the World Cup 
• Sublime: it’s time to acknowledge Virat Kohli

Yet in Australia the impression is that Lee – who announced he will retire from cricket after the current Big Bash League season – flew under the radar.

Not as antagonistic as Dennis Lillee, as precise as Glenn McGrath or as controversial as Shane Warne, Lee’s career was nonetheless remarkable.  

At his peak, he rivalled Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar as the fastest bowler in the world.

Indeed, legends Warne, Lillee and McGrath are the only Australians to have taken more Test wickets than Lee, who claimed 310 in a nine-year career.

In one-day internationals, his tally is even better. He and McGrath share the record for the most ODI wickets by an Australian, with 380 apiece. Lee played 221 – McGrath 250.

[display-jwplayer playerwidth=”100%” playervideourl=”/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/20150115-brett-lee-test-debut.mp4″]

Lee was a key cog in the Australian attack when our Test team was at its zenith. McGrath and Warne may have taken the lion’s share of the wickets, but Lee and Jason Gillespie ensured no batsman had it easy.

Of the 76 Tests he played, Lee won 54 and only suffered defeat in 11.

That included all 16 Australia won in succession between Boxing Day 2005 and January 2008. His first 10 Tests were all wins as well. He took a five-for on debut (including a handy fella named Rahul Dravid).

Most recently he has been one of the biggest drawcards in the Big Bash League.

His 31 Big Bash scalps throughout the four editions of the tournament put him equal fifth on the all-time wicket-takers’ list – and he still has more to play.

In this day and age, when cricketers retire in increments (Tests or ODIs first, then T20), Lee’s announcement still hit hard.

The Big Bash League offers a wonderful blend of a breeding ground for future talent and a comfortable pasture for greats of a certain vintage.

One of the highlights of the summer, over and above the flashing wickets, blaring music and fireworks, is seeing old favourites having the time of their lives one last time.

The competition, and Australian cricket, will be poorer without Lee’s beaming smile.