Former Australian speedster Brett Lee recently took part in a blind ranking challenge during his stint with the Australia Champions team at the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025. In the fun challenge while talking to Shefali Bagga, Lee was asked to rank six renowned fast bowlers without knowing who was coming next — and the results sparked plenty of reactions, especially as Jasprit Bumrah emerged on top.
Mitchell Starc gets third, Jasprit Bumrah takes pole position in Brett Lee’s list
The first name presented to Lee was Aussie pacer Mitchell Starc, whom he confidently placed at the third spot. The next name to pop up was Jasprit Bumrah, and without hesitation, Lee slotted the Indian pace ace at No. 1 — a clear reflection of how highly he regards Bumrah’s skill, control, and match-winning ability.
Dale Steyn and Glenn McGrath feature in Lee’s list
As the list continued, South African legend Dale Steyn was handed the second spot. When Glenn McGrath’s name surfaced, Lee placed his former teammate at fourth, which drew curious reactions from fans, given McGrath’s illustrious career. Lee explained he was under the impression the rankings would feature only current players.
Also READ: ENG vs IND: Jasprit Bumrah set to retire from Test cricket? Mohammad Kaif drops a bombshell
Lee apologises to James Anderson
The next bowler in the queue was England’s James Anderson. Despite Lee’s admiration for the veteran swing master, he had no choice but to assign him the fifth position due to the prior slots being filled. Lee offered a cheeky apology to Anderson, saying, “Sorry Jimmy, I would’ve changed things for you.” Morne Morkel was the final name to be revealed, and he was given the sixth and last spot.
Though meant to be a fun activity, Lee’s rankings gave a glimpse into his perspective on the current crop and the legacy of past pace greats. His decision to place Bumrah at the top only reinforces the Indian seamer’s growing stature among modern-day cricketing legends.
Also READ: Brian Lara ranks Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma & others in Cricket’s Legend and GOAT tiers
