This week we’ve started a new feature called Where are they now? Here, we’ll write about iconic Australians and take a look at where they are now.
With all the talk about Michael Clarke stepping down from the cricket pitch, it seems fitting we take a look at Dennis Lillee and see what he’s up to these days.
Known as the fastest bowler of his generation back in the 70’s, Dennis Lillee was also well-known for his fiery temperament, his rugged good looks – mostly to the ladies – and of course, his classic handlebar moustache.
So where is he now?
Lillee still lives in Perth in Western Australia and he is now in his eleventh year as president of the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA). In his time at the WACA he has helped make it more financial by bringing the crowds back in and making the atmosphere more relaxed and casual.
Something you may not know – Lillee is a passionate cook. When he retired, his wife, Helen, went back to university full time and his job was being “a househusband for two years,” which he says he enjoyed.
For many years, Lillee has been a keen wine collector, preferring the heavier, full-bodied, red wines. “Besides collecting wine, I like drinking it,” he adds.
But Lillee still sticks to a fairly tough fitness regime, spending time in the gym and on the treadmill. He also likes Pilates and has a machine installed at his home.
After retirement
After Lillee retired from test cricket in 1981, by the 1990s, he had dedicated himself to mentoring and coaching young bowlers.
One of his big achievements since retiring has been helping to start the MRF Pace Foundation – a coaching clinic for training fast bowlers, based in Chennai, India. Lillee has been the president of this clinic since 1987 and only stepped down from this role in 2012.
The Foundation has trained Indian players such as Sachin Tendulkar as well as Australian fast bowlers such as Glenn McGrath, Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee.
In December 2009, Lillee was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
An illustrious sporting career
Dennis Keith Lillee, AM, MBE, was born on the 18th July 1949 in Subiaco, Western Australia. Aged 20, Lillee made his debut playing for Western Australia in 1969-70 and those who saw him play were impressed with his raw pace.
In the early part of his career Lillee was an extremely quick bowler, but a number of stress fractures in his back almost ended his career. Taking on a strict fitness regime, he fought his way back to full fitness, eventually returning to international cricket.
By the time of his retirement from international cricket in 1984 he had become the world record holder for the most Test wickets taken – he took 355 in total. When he retired, he had firmly established himself as one of the most recognisable and renowned Australian sportsmen of all time.
Lillee’s career was not without some setbacks though. During a Test against Pakistan in the 1972–73 season, he had sharp pain in his back and was later forced out of cricket with his back injury. Lillee persevered with an intensive physiotherapy routine and changed his bowling action. In 1974–75, he returned to Test cricket for the Ashes series and was paired with New South Wales fast bowler, Jeff Thomson, to form one of the most effective opening bowling combinations in Test cricket.
At this time, the University of Western Australia timed Lillee’s bowling at 154.8 kilometres per hour.
Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust, if Thomson don’t get ya, Lillee must.
Such was the force of the Lillee and Thomson duo during the 1974-75 Ashes series, the The Sunday Telegraph ran a photo of the two with a caption that read: Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust, if Thomson don’t get ya, Lillee must.
