Brothers Brett and Shane Lee playing together in a one-day international against Pakistan at The Gabba in Brisbane in 2000. Photo: Hamish Blair/ALLSPORT.
Oak Flats’ cricketing Lee brothers may have retired from the game but they are far from retired off the pitch.
It’s been all about having balance both on and off the field during their cricketing careers that has helped Brett and Shane create successful careers.
Growing up in Oak Flats, Shane has fond memories of playing cricket in the schoolyard. He says those days ignited his interest in the game that took him to the heights of representing his country in the 1999 One Day World Cup squad, before retiring in 2002.
“Balarang Public School had two cement cricket pitches at the back of the school, so I started bowling at a tin rubbish bin during recess and lunch with my mates,” he recalls.
“I went on to join the Albion Park Rail Cricket Club for a year, then the Oak Flat Rats.”
For younger (and middle) brother Brett it was all about following what his older brother would do, and that meant cricket in the backyard.
“Shane would come home from school and wanted to play cricket. As the middle child (they have a younger brother Grant) and as a brother, you’d always follow suit what your older brother does,” Brett laughs.
The brothers rose quickly through the cricketing ranks and soon found themselves playing grade cricket both locally and in Sydney while still only teenagers.
Shane said it was an eye-opener when he found himself playing against some very experienced first grade cricketers.
“I made my first grade debut for Oak Flats Cricket Club when I was 14, but I was playing first grade in Sydney for Campbelltown at 15,” he said.
Shane combines his three main passions of sport, music and business in his podcast. Photo: Lunch With Lee.
Brett was 16 when he made his debut playing first grade in Sydney.
However, higher honours were calling for the Lee brothers with selection in the national team.
For Shane, playing with his brother was a highlight of his career, along with his debut game.
“The team back then was Taylor and Slater, the two Waugh brothers – Michael Bevin and David Boon were still around. My first roommate was Craig McDermott,” he said.
It was in the dressing room of the NSW cricket team that the band Six and Out was formed.
Along with their combined love of music, each member brought their own musical talents, with Gavin Robinson on drums, Shane and fellow teammate Brad McNamara on guitars, and Richard Chee Quee on vocals.
However for Brett to join, he needed to be a bass player.
“I remember I was in the Sheffield Shield squad and I heard these whispers about a band. I thought it would be pretty cool to be in a band, so I went and I bought myself a purple bass guitar,” Brett said.
After some 300 shows, the band has just finished a national tour and a documentary Six and Out – Our Second Innings, screening on Kayo Sports.
Shane retired in 2002 at age 29 following a knee injury. He completed a science degree at Wollongong University and went on to co-found a successful media company which he built up and later sold.
Six and Out was formed in the NSW Sheffield Shield dressing rooms. Brett is at far left and Shane at the right. Photo: Six and Out.
He’s been able to combine his three main passions of sport, music and business into a podcast called Lunch with Lee.
“I like to go to lunch and I do enjoy a long lunch, so I devised a business plan around that,” Shane said.
“I interview either a sportsperson with a musician or a musician with a business person, depending on the combination. It’s short stories over a long lunch, and it’s been so much fun.”
Brett had his heart and mind set on cricket from a young age.
“From the age of nine I decided I wanted to bowl 160 k’s and play for Australia. That’s what I did, that’s what I strived for,” he said.
Nothing was going to stand in his way, not even a broken back at the age of 16.
“The doctor at Shellharbour said I wasn’t going to play cricket again. That wasn’t what I planned,” he told Region.
As Brett made the move up the cricketing ladder, ultimately playing for Australia in all three formats, it was about having the balance between what was happening on and off the field.
Brett Lee … “if you only learn one skill in sport, you’re not going to be sitting well in life in general”. Photo: Supplied.
“One thing I’ve always done is worked. I had a job at the age of 17 in Sydney selling menswear with Richard Bowman. And to this day, we’re business partners, and still sell clothing together,” he said.
“I’ve always said that if someone looks after you and gives you a crack at a first job, or a first opportunity, you should stick by them.
“And that to me was the best thing I ever did was have a full-time job whilst I was playing for Australia.
“It keeps you grounded, it keeps you level. But most importantly it gives you other interests away from sport.
“You have to be so dedicated to be an elite sports person, but it could end at the age of 22 … 29 … for me I was 39 when I finished playing professional sport.
“But from 39 to hopefully 89 you’ve got a massive life ahead of you. And if you only learn one skill in sport, you’re not going to be sitting well in life in general.
“So, I try and learn as many things as possible. I think it’s important that you have an array of loves and passions in your life.”
The Illawarra of their childhood still holds a special place in their hearts and memories, from Brett fishing as a youngster at Windang Bridge to Shane’s love of Gerringong, Jamberoo and the beaches at Shellharbour.
“We are so proud of where we’ve come from and so honoured to be classed as an Illawarra boy or Wollongong lad,” Brett said.
