Brett Lee reveals Aussie cricket’s longest-kept secret: ‘Shouldn’t be saying this’

Former Aussie bowler Brett Lee admitted he “shouldn’t be saying too much about” a secret that’s been kept since Don Bradman’s days.

Brett Lee has lifted the lid on a secret post-game ritual used by the Australian cricket team to celebrate victories at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The SCG is often mentioned by players as one of the most iconic grounds to play at, with the wooden changerooms and team balconies nestled in the old members’ stand.

Going down the stairs of the members to go out to bat is one of the more famous paths to the wicket in world cricket, along with the journey through the long room at Lord’s.

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But Lee has revealed another special part of the SCG the Aussie players get to enjoy after a big win.

Speaking on the Hello Sport podcast, the former Australian fast bowler said the team would tap a bat on the ground three times before joining the ground staff for a drink in a cellar tucked behind a garage door.

Brett Lee revealed a secret team celebration at the SCG. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Lee explained: “At the Sydney Cricket Ground, a lot of people don’t know — (I’m) giving away a little bit of inside knowledge here. That inner sanctum where we feel comfortable, where there’s no press, where we can relax and just speak honestly and openly.

“After the Test win at the SCG, the tradition is you’ll get a cricket bat and go thump thump thump on the floor, three taps. Then a few minutes later you’ll hear thump thump thump, someone from downstairs in the cellar, which means come downstairs to the cellar.

“So you walk down underneath the change rooms of the Australian players, opposite near where the race is and there’s a little garage door.

“You walk inside and it’s (tiny) so we reckon it’s Justin Langer’s house because he fits in beautifully. And there’s a door that’s been signed by every Test cricketer I think since the 1950s that’s in there.

Brett Lee with Andy Bichel and Glenn McGrath drink a beer after winning a Test match.

Brett Lee at the members pavilion at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

“And it’s a cellar. So beers and wine, you get down there and have a chat with some of the ground staff and have a cold beer with them.

“I thought, ‘How good’s this Test cricket stuff’ and tradition knowing that the likes of Bradman have done it, the Allan Borders, the Merv Hughes, legends of the game.”

Lee added he “probably shouldn’t be saying too much about this”, joking the three bat taps would signal: “We are thirsty!”

“That was a pinch myself moment,” said Lee, who took 310 wickets across 76 Test matches.

“I’m looking around and I’ve got Steve and Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, Justin Langer, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and here I am in the secret cellar with my heroes I watched growing up and are now teammates.”

Lee will be part of Fox Cricket’s commentary team for the upcoming summer, with Australia taking on Pakistan and the West Indies.

The first Test between Australia and Pakistan begins on Thursday 14 December in Perth.

Originally published as Brett Lee reveals Aussie cricket’s longest-kept secret: ‘Shouldn’t be saying this’