In a delightful and unexpected moment of cross-sport appreciation, two world-class athletes from entirely different disciplines, cricket and javelin, came together through words of mutual respect and admiration.
Neeraj Chopra’s compliment to former Australian bowling great
The exchange was sparked by none other than Indian Olympic gold medallist and reigning world javelin champion Neeraj Chopra, who recently expressed his views on which cricketer he believes had the potential to excel in javelin throw and he answered the name of former Australian fast-bowling legend Brett Lee. The moment came during an interaction with Jio Star, where Chopra was asked which cricketer, in his opinion, could have made it big in the javelin throw arena. Without hesitation, Chopra named Lee, stating:
“I have heard that Brett Lee was a javelin thrower. I think he could throw the javelin well, especially when he was in his peak years,” Neeraj was quoted as saying by the India Today.
Lee’s express pace and iconic bowling action, characterized by explosive momentum and impeccable timing, bear a striking resemblance to the biomechanics of a javelin throw, making Chopra’s observation both logical and fascinating for fans across both sports.
Brett Lee’s brilliant reply to Neeraj’s javelin reference wins hearts
Not one to let admiration go unanswered, Lee responded with humility and fond memories. Quoting the article on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the retired pacer confirmed that he indeed had experience throwing the javelin, albeit during his school days and not at any competitive level.
“I did throw the javelin back at my schooling days, but nowhere near what Neeraj does & continues to do. Very tough on the elbow. I have however admired what this fine athlete can do and wish him well,” Lee wrote on X.
😂 I did throw the javelin back at my schooling days, but nowhere near what Neeraj does & continues to do.
Very tough on the elbow. I have however admired what this fine athlete can do and wish him well 🔥 🥇 https://t.co/fbbpKzd4bj— @BrettLee_58 (@BrettLee_58) June 30, 2025
His acknowledgment not only confirmed the anecdote Chopra had heard but also highlighted the physical toll javelin, like fast bowling, can have on an athlete’s body, particularly the elbow. Further showcasing his enthusiasm for cricket and the nuances of fast bowling, Neeraj also shared another intriguing thought during the same interaction. He revealed that he would love to collaborate with India’s pace ace Jasprit Bumrah, not for cricket, but for javelin!
“I would like to try javelin with Jasprit Bumrah too, and hope he teaches me some bowling skills. While bowling and javelin are both throws, they are very different. I would like to learn from Bumrah,” Neeraj concluded.
Neeraj is not just making headlines for his insights and comments, he’s also continuing his stellar form on the field. After securing consecutive wins at the Paris Diamond League and Ostrava Golden Spike, Chopra now gears up for a landmark event named in his honour, the ‘Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025’, a standalone javelin competition set to take place on Saturday, July 5.
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