Brett Lee joins Ireland coaching staff to help World Cup preparations

Cricket Ireland has announced that Brett Lee will join the coaching staff to help the team prepare for this month's World Cup.

The Australian bowler, who has taken 310 wickets in 76 Tests, retired from all forms of the game following the Big Bash final last week.

Ireland have recruited Lee on a short-term deal in the hope that his experience will help the current crop of players perform at the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

"Brett Lee has a wonderful knowledge of fast bowling, and his special insight of Australian pitches will help give our bowlers further confidence ahead of their group matches," head coach Phil Simmons told Cricket Ireland's official website.

"I'm sure all our bowlers will benefit from the experience that a two-time World Cup winner has accumulated, especially in the pressure situations of a global event. It's a fanatstic opportunity for our bowlers to learn from a living legend and one I'm sure they'll all benefit from."

Ireland's opening group game is against the West Indies in Nelson on February 16.