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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Matthew Cooper

When Piers Morgan suffered broken rib from Brett Lee in stunt that 'could have been fatal'

Media personality Piers Morgan is known for his outspoken views and controversial comments and they have got him into trouble on more than one occasion.

However, none have been quite as unforgiving as the time he talked his way into facing an over from Australia fast bowler Brett Lee during the 2013-14 Ashes series.

Morgan engaged in a war of words on Twitter with Lee, who was only one year removed from international retirement and still sending down thunderbolts for Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash.

The Twitter war then culminated in a stunt where Lee bowled a full over at Morgan during the fourth Ashes Test at the MCG.

And Lee showed no mercy to his rival, battering him with an over of short stuff as four of the six deliveries hit Morgan on the body, leaving him with a broken rib.

Brett Lee hit Piers Morgan on the body four times during the over (Channel 9)

The stunt split opinion at the time, with New Zealand legend Sir Richard Hadlee condemning it and warning it "could have proved fatal".

Hadlee said: "It was clear that Morgan could not bat or defend himself against Lee's pace and intimidation - this was an unfair and one-sided contest that could have had severe consequences.

"It was a deliberate attempt to hit, injure, hurt and maim his opponent that I viewed as a form of grievous bodily harm or a human assault that could have proved fatal."

Lee later admitted that the large crowd that gathered around the MCG practice nets to watch the over played a big part, with his "natural instinct" taking over.

"It was like a cauldron,'' he said. ''There were about 5000 people watching [at the nets] and a million people watching on TV.

"It was my full intention to bowl the first ball over his head, but when I was about to let the ball go I saw his feet move and decided to chase him - it was my natural instinct that took over.

The stunt occurred during the 2013-14 Ashes series after Morgan and Lee engaged in a back-and-forth on Twitter (Channel 9)

"It wasn't about me maiming someone at all - I don't aim to hurt people. It was about educating people what it's about to face fast bowling."

Morgan said he had 'urged Lee to bowl as fast as he liked' and, speaking about the stunt earlier this year, compared it to 'a public stoning'.

He told Channel 9's Today show: "He tried to kill me. The third [ball] broke my rib. I was wearing this massive guard over my front, and then the fourth [ball] hit the broken rib. And Brett Lee ran down and went, 'Oh mate, did you hear that one crack!' I was like, you are a psychopath!"

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