Lillee hits his mark over pay row
Dennis Lillee has left the door open to coach Australia’s aspiring fast bowlers in the future despite another fallout with Cricket Australia following a pay dispute.
Lillee rejected CA’s most recent offer to remain as Australia’s pace coach but used a statement on his exit to reinforce his input into Mitch Johnson’s resurgence in the past six months.
Describing as a “helpful yard stick” his contribution to Johnson’s impact in helping Australia regain the Ashes and the No.1 Test ranking, Lillee said he would still help if required.
But Lillee said he was a “working Australian” who received “nominal reward” as an expert coach.
“I remain ready, willing and able to continue Australia’s resurgence in the cricketing world,” Lillee said from the United States where he is attending the Philadelphia International Cricket Festival.
“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.
“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.”
Lillee, who has fallen out previously with CA over his payment as a specialist coach, made it clear that he considered his advice significant in Johnson’s resurgence this summer.
The left-armer was at his brutal best in taking 37 Ashes wickets to underpin the 5-0 Ashes whitewash.
“If my role and influence is to be assessed on any measure, perhaps the contribution to re-invigorating Mitch Johnson’s career to becoming the best performing fast bowler in the world last year is a helpful yard stick,” 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.
“My role as coach with the Australian and West 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.
“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 CA and the coaches that are involved in the game.
“I am disappointed that CA 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.”
