Brett Lee has revealed that his former Australia team-mate Glenn McGrath has given a pep talk to members of the Australian team as they seek to retain the Ashes.

McGrath, who played for Australia between 1994-95 and 2006-07 and retired as the most prolific fast bowler in Test history with 563 wickets, caught up with the Australians at their team hotel in Worcester during their match against the England Lions.

Australia play England in the first Ashes Test on Wednesday in Cardiff and Lee revealed that McGrath’s advice was well worth the dinner date.

“I had a really good chat to Glenn the other night,” Lee told reporters. “He offered his advice. He was floating through this town so we bled him for as much information as we could get.

“The boys were like sponges around him and so we should be. The guy has been an amazing player with so many Test wickets. It blows my mind how a fast bowler can be around for that long and take that amount of wickets.

“We tried to understand what he has done and now my role is to help a few of the younger guys in the squad coming through with my experience.

“We just asked him why he was so successful when bowling over here and he gave us a pep talk and a few things to work on. A few things he said definitely helped me today.”

Lee claimed 6-76 against the Lions and was only denied a career best on Friday because wicketkeeper Brad Haddin dropped Steve Harmison. He was looking to better is personal best of 7-114.