Dennis Lillee has responded to Cricket Australia's announcement that the former Test wicket-taking record holder would no longer be working with the nation's fast bowlers due to a dispute over pay demands, citing the impact of Mitchell Johnson in the past two series as the best measure of his effectiveness.
Having played a major role in Johnson's resurgence, while also being on
call to mentor the likes of Pat Cummins and James Pattinson, Lillee's
request for a pay increase was knocked back by CA.
However, Lillee, who is presently attending a cricket festival in Philadelphia, said in a statement to Brisbane's Courier-Mail
that he was merely asking for a fair financial return for the work he
had done, especially given that Johnson was "the difference" between
Ashes defeat in England and a rollicking 5-0 sweep at home.
"If my role and influence is to be assessed on any measure, perhaps the
contribution to reinvigorating Mitch Johnson's career to becoming the
best performing fast bowler in the world last year is a helpful
yardstick,'' Lillee said. "We had many, many hours of contact and
continual work to achieve his amazing performances of the last 12
months.
"It must be obvious the difference between the Australian team in
England and the fantastic Ashes success in Australia was largely due to
Mitch's presence, confidence, technique and impact."
While disputing reports that he was only required to work with
Australia's pacemen for 11 days last year, Lillee said modern coaching
and mentoring of cricketers had become a far more demanding and
enveloping job than it had been during his time as a player.
"My role as coach with the Australian and Western Australian teams has
obviously required a commitment that has embraced one-on-one coaching,
computer analysis of players' actions and performance and remote
coaching and support," he said. "Coaching and mentoring in the modern
day is far more demanding than when I played, and this has been a
substantial adjustment in resources and commitment for Cricket Australia
and the coaches that are involved in the game.
"I am disappointed that Cricket Australia has chosen to debate in the
public arena the value of the services I have provided to Australian
cricket, along with what should have been a sensible discussion about
nominal reward for ongoing performance. My career and my support role in
the recent Ashes success speak for themselves and I remain ready,
willing and able to continue Australia's resurgence in the cricketing
world."
Lillee remains in touch with the bowlers he has mentored, but reiterated
his earlier words in a radio interview during the South Africa Test
tour that he felt compelled to take a stand over his pay. "I remain
involved with and supportive of my group of bowlers, but as a working
Australian, need to draw the line at some stage regarding what is fair
and not fair," he said.
"I have been privileged in my career to be mentored by some of the best
coaches and players of cricket in the game and it has been my pleasure
to pass on and embellish the knowledge that I have gained. Coaching at
this level is not about an hourly rate or time in the office -- it's a
reflection of the experience and knowledge gained over many years and an
ability to communicate skills and a trade craft that produces results.
The Australian bowling performance during the Ashes shows those results.
"The work I have undertaken with Australia's fast bowlers has been very
rewarding personally and feedback from those involved intimated that the
feeling was mutual. At the end of the day the game is about the players
and the memorable performances that bring us back each summer,
regardless of the temporary administrators and politics of the sport.''
Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @danbrettig
Feeds: Daniel Brettig
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