Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Express Lee fastest to reach 300 ODI wickets

Australian speedster Brett Lee became the fastest bowler to claim 300 wickets in one-day international.

Lee accomplished the feat in his 171st game, eclipsing the record of Pakistani bowler Waqar Younis (186 ODIs) by 15 games and some 400 balls (8,733 to Waqar's 9,166) during Australia's series clinching seven-wicket victory over West Indies in the third one-dayer in Grenada Sunday.

Darren Sammy, caught and bowled by Lee for three became his 300th victim with the New South Wales(NSW) paceman joining Glenn McGrath as the second Australian - and 10th cricketer overall - to reach the landmark.

'I am so honoured and so proud. I don't normally fuss over these types of things but to reach 300 is a very special feeling and one I will always cherish,' Lee, who with 289 wickets is also on track to eclipse 300 Test scalps later this year, was quoted as saying in The Courier-Mail.

'You think about times when you get your baggy green cap or your first Test wicket.

'And then you think that only two Australians have now achieved this dream of taking 300, it's very special. I am hoping for a few more. The body's feeling great. I am only 31. We'll see what happens.'

Lee, who became just the 10th bowler to reach 300 wickets, said he only found out after the match that he had been the quickest to 300.

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