Cricketing legend Dennis Lillee talks to George Dobell about the wonders of Western Australia.

Dennis Lillee hasn’t always been known for his hospitality. For years, he ruined the visits of Englishmen venturing to Australia with his ferocious fast bowling. With that bristling moustache and fiery temper, he seemed to epitomise sporting menace.

Few suffered more than Dennis Amiss. At one stage the Warwickshire legend was dismissed seven times in eight innings by Lillee, later admitting: “It got to the stage where I walked out to the middle knowing it was virtually a waste of time carrying a bat.”

Lillee’s fury wasn’t reserved just for the English, however. His on-field confrontation with former Pakistan captain, Javed Miandad, in 1981, was described by Wisden as “one of the most undignified incidents in Test history.” Lillee appeared almost wild at times.

But how he could bowl By the time he retired from Test cricket, in 1984, Lillee had taken more Test wickets – and more Ashes wickets – than anyone in history. Many rate him as the greatest fast bowler in the history of the game.

Now, however, Lillee has mellowed.

While the trademark moustache and broad shoulders remain almost untouched by time, he is surprisingly soft spoken and strikingly intelligent.

Not only is he a charming host, but he’s an intelligent president of the Western Australia Cricket Association and a passionate unofficial ambassador for the state’s tourist industry.

“We love the Poms,” he says with a broad smile that was alien to a generation of Test batsman.

“Sure, there’s fierce rivalry at the cricket, but most of us can trace our heritage back to the UK and tourism is an important part of our economy. The Brits are embraced with open arms.”

Lillee is unashamedly proud of Western Australia. Not only does he delight in the capital city’s recent boom, but he admits he rarely ventures out of the state even when on holiday.

It’s not hard to see why.

“Perth is a great city these days,” he explains. “But it’s still the most isolated city on the planet and I love that.

‘‘I love it that you can take a 4x4 out and enjoy nature at its most pristine. There is a rugged beauty about Western Australia and I love the fact that you can drive for hours and hours and not see another person. It’s the largest state in the country – taking up nearly a third of Australia – and though about 2.2 million people live here, about 85 per cent of them live within a couple of hours of Perth.

‘‘I hardly leave WA now. Why would I? We have an amazing climate, amazing countryside and incredible recreational opportunities. I even holiday here.”

Perth:

“There was a time, not so long ago, when Perth was seen as the poor relation of Melbourne and Sydney,” says Dennis. “But not any more.

“Perth has boomed in the last 10 years. I remember looking out across the city a little while ago and counting 36 cranes on construction sites. They’re building new offices and hotels all the time and the mining sector – which is particularly strong in WA – has ensured that we haven’t experienced the recession that has affected other parts of the world. There are fantastic hotels and wonderful restaurants of every description in Perth now and the city has become a vibrant, multi-cultural, modern city.

“One that I like very much is In Contro (http://www.incontro.com.au). It’s in south Perth and has superb views across the Swan River and the city. Frasers (www.frasersrestaurant.com.au) is great, too. It offers wonderful views of the city skyline and the Swan River and is open for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

“There’s a huge Asian influence in Perth now and that’s reflected in the cuisine. Ten Ten Kitchen, a Chinese restaurant in East Victoria Park, is very good value, while Munch Delight, on Mends Street in South Perth, offers good Thai food.

“The best sea food you’ll ever taste can be found in Fremantle and it doesn’t get any better than Kailis’ (www.kailis.com). I always have fish and chips, but their prawns and scallops are to die for. The fish is all brought in as fresh as can be from Fremantle harbour.

The outdoors

“Perth, and Western Australia as a whole, has an outdoor lifestyle. I’m sure it’s part of the reason I became a successful sportsman. Like most Australian kids, I was outside all the time as I grew up. If I wasn’t playing cricket, I was playing football or riding around on my bike. Perth made me.

“The Swan River is at the centre of everything. I’d strongly recommend people go sailing (www.funcats.com.au), on river cruises or yachting (www.sopyc.com.au) if they get the chance. Charter fishing is also wonderful.

For golfers I’d recommend The Vines (www.vines.com.au), which is a championship golf course in the Swan Valley.