Dagg’s day with the Aussies

Israel Dagg may have been the secret ingredient behind one of Brett Lee’s most explosive fast bowling spells in international cricket.

The 66-test All Black will reunite with cricket, his first sporting love, on January 25 after being confirmed on the Team Rugby side for the Twenty20 Black Clash match at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval.

Dagg, who is on a short-term contract in Japan with the Canon Eagles, was a gifted right-arm fast bowler growing up in Hawke’s Bay.

When Australia’s allconquering cricketers toured New Zealand in 2005, a 16-year-old Dagg was offered the opportunity to be a net bowler to their starstudded batting lineup, including captain Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds and Michael Clarke.

Dagg, who won a national schoolboys fast bowling competition, being clocked at 143kmh, sent down deliveries in the nets at Napier’s McLean Park prior to the one-dayer.

He made quite the impression on speedster Lee, who told a chuffed Dagg he had the ability to go a long way in the sport and invited him to be Australia’s ‘water boy’ for the ODI.

‘‘Doing that for Brett Lee, who was the best bowler and the quickest bowler in the world, that was an awesome experience,’’ Dagg told

Dagg fondly recalled pacing around the boundary rope and replenishing Lee’s water bottles. Whatever he put in there clearly worked with Lee breaking the 160kmh barrier twice in his first over, including a 161kmh thunderbolt – among the quickest of his career.

Kiwi opener Craig Cumming had few answers to the fast-paced barrage and was sent on his way by Lee, struck in front of his

Crusaders charity matches have been Israel Dagg’s lot in cricket in recent years. He is pictured in 2012 with team-mates, from left, Andy Ellis, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett and Kieran Read.