The ball that blitzed England

Brett Lee re-wrote the Lord's record books to bowl Australia to NatWest Series success with three games to spare.

The Australia fast bowler became the first player to claim two five-wicket hauls in one-day internationals at English cricket's headquarters, to set up the comfortable seven-wicket win.

The 32-year-old took five for 49, obliterating the lower order late in the innings with his yorkers, as England were dismissed for 220 in the 47th over.
He later agreed for the match ball, his by right after his quintet of dismissals, to be loaned to the MCC and displayed in the museum at the ground for the next 12 months.

"It obviously meant a lot actually getting a five-for, for Australia again," said Lee.

"To get it at the home of cricket, Lord's, it's always a very special moment, and you always treasure the fact you get the chance to play here at Lord's.
"It's something that is a very, very special part of my cricketing life so far."
Lee now has 314 ODI wickets, having surpassed his 310 tally for Tests, and no other Australian has taken as many five-wicket bags in the history of international limited-overs action as his nine.

Of loaning the lethal weapon with which he dismantled England's batting, Lee said: "I don't play for that factor of the game but when they asked for it straight away to be put on lend, I said, 'Well if I can get it back after 12 months, definitely'."
It was already on display before Lee changed out of his kit, having been signed by the man himself.

Australia now appear a good bet to seal a 7-0 whitewash of an England side weary and lacking direction in the aftermath of the Ashes.

"The next game is very important, but the chance to win the next three is something we'll certainly be eyeing," said Lee.

"We have it take it game by game, you obviously don't want to look too far ahead as well.

"You can become complacent I think, after we've won the series here it would be very easy for us to think we've done the hard work, but the hard work starts now."
Lee has been given extra motivation to do well sporting the green and gold after first being injured and then overlooked for the 2-1 Test series defeat, a snub which has left a lingering pain.

"I was disappointed not to play in the Ashes to say the least, but that's behind me now," Lee said.

"I can only perform the best I can when given the opportunity.
"Here the yorker was landing where I wanted it to land, I felt pretty strong at the crease and walking away with a five-for is a special feeling.

"I don't think it makes up for what's happened in the Test series, it's a completely different series.

"It certainly brings a smile to my face, put it that way. I've left the Ashes behind me now, I have dealt with that and moved on.

"I'm hoping to get the chance to play some Test cricket this Australian summer. The only thing I can try to do is take wickets in one-day matches to prove I can play Test cricket again.

"You've just got to keep putting your hand up."

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