Dominic in wonderland

From NSW errand-boy to Brett Lee8217;s manager and now opponent, Thornley has come a long way

Imagine being employed by one of the best client management companies in Australia and representing Brett Lee for five years! Cut to the IPL8217;s wonderland where Dominic Thornley is now in line to perform a major role for Mumbai Indians and will soon cherish his long-time dream of playing against Brett Lee when Kings XI Punjab go to Mumbai.

Sometime during the next few days, perhaps before Thornley settles down in his new role, Lee8217;s former manager might pause and ask himself: could life have turned out any better?

The 26-year-old from New South Wales could have returned to player management after leading his team to the Pura Cup final this season, but a surprise inclusion in the Mumbai Indians squad on the insistence of Sachin Tendulkar has meant that Thornley8217;s other involvement with former star-client Lee, apart from going fishing, will be mostly on the field.

8220;It was 10 years ago that I approached NSW for some work experience. At first I worked at the office cafe, ran errands and managed the local tasks related with public relations. After a stint with English club Wardlaw in 2001, I was a bit free and it was Neil Maxwell, the current CEO of Kings XI Punjab, who put me on to Brett Lee in 2002 to manage his accounts for five years for Insite, Neil8217;s company,8221; says Thronley, who figured in Hampshire8217;s succesful Twenty20 campaign last year.

It wasn8217;t until 2005, when he scored a record 1065 runs in the Pura Cup that he got his first fan mail. 8220;That was fantastic. Steve Waugh had been insisting the whole season that I bat at number four after he retired from international cricket. The innings of 261 against Western Australia was my maiden first-class century and I got my first fan-mail that day. I sent a text message to Lee that day suggesting that from now on he can look after my account!8221; Thronley says.

And the man the Aussies call 8216;Big Dom8217; could have faced Lee on Friday, had he not been injured after he was struck above his right eye when a Praveen Kumar delivery sneaked through his helmet during Indians8217;s first match. 8220;Maybe when they travel to Mumbai, I will be able to whack Lee for some huge sixes,8221; jokes Thornely.