Dennis Lillee AM MBE (b. 1949), fast bowler, led Australia's cricketing attack through the 1970s. Raised in Perth, he made his first class debut for Western Australia in 1969-1970 and his Test debut against England in 1971. Charismatic and tempestuous, his lush moustache setting off his incredible mat of chest hair, he made his long runup against the roared chant of tens of thousands in the crowd. He played his last Test in January 1984 against Pakistan, announcing his retirement along with Greg Chappell and Rod Marsh and taking a wicket on the last ball he bowled. At that moment, he held the world record for most Test wickets (355), although many have now exceeded his haul. His partnership with wicketkeeper Rod Marsh, which resulted in 95 wickets over 69 matches, is a record that stands. One of the ten inaugural inductees into the Cricket Australia Hall of Fame in 1996, Lillee was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2009. He was included in the Test Team of the Century named by an expert panel in 2000; his statue stands outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground and a stand at the WACA is named in his (and fellow West Australian Rod Marsh's) honour. Author of several books on cricket as well as an autobiography, Menace (2003), Lillee is now a bowling coach in international demand.
