Dhaka, Nov. 9 -- A young boy walking in the streets suddenly starts a short run, leaps to bowl a delivery without having a ball in hand. Needless to say, the boy was copying Brett Lee's bowling action. It is a common scene for many of us. When Brett Lee stormed into international cricket in 1999, he didn't just join Australia's golden generation; he added a new rhythm to it.

With sun-blonde hair and a smile that never quite left his face, Lee brought an electricity to the game that fans felt instantly.

He wasn't just fast; he was exhilarating. Every time he started that smooth, sprinter-like run-up, stadiums collectively held their breath, waiting for the ball that often blurred past the bat faster than the eye could track.

At a time w...