Lee bowled over by wife Liz's decision to leave

The champion fast bowler is struggling to understand why Liz Kemp - mother of their 21-month-old son Preston - would have ended what he believed was a happy marriage.

Lee's friends, however, have discounted the friendship between Ms Kemp, a former Double Bay podiatrist, and a high-profile rugby player as the cause of the split. The pair have been seen together at nightclubs and at lunch in recent weeks while her husband has been engaged on promotions and other events.

The rugby player yesterday denied his relationship with Liz was the cause of the marriage breakup and said the pair were old friends.

"We became close as friends years ago," he said. "She was someone I could talk to. There was nothing untoward going on. Liz knows my family and I know her family.

"In the last three or four years, I have seen her maybe three or four times for lunch, some of those times have been with Brett. I get on quite well with Brett."

The rugby player said he had a girlfriend and that his friendship with Liz was purely platonic.

"I have been going through some troubles of my own and Liz is a friend of mine that I could tell stuff like that."

Lee's friends became concerned for the marriage when Ms Kemp was seen enjoying the Luna Park engagement party of Michael Clarke and Lara Bingle. Lee was in the country visiting friends and did not attend the party. They are stunned at suggestions from Ms Kemp's friends that she did not like the lifestyle of a cricketing WAG.

"Brett flew Liz and her mother around the world so he could have them near him," said a source close to the Australian cricket team on condition of anonymity. "All he ever spoke about was seeing his family, so I am sure that cricket wasn't the reason for the breakup. Liz certainly seemed to enjoy the lifestyle."

Lee has changed his partying ways since marrying Ms Kemp at Alan Jones's country home near Bowral two years ago. Just two months ago he laid on a lavish 31st birthday party for Liz and close friends at The Ivy.

"Brett has always put his family first," said the source.

Lee was yesterday with his family at his North Shore home.

Red-eyed and drawn, he stepped out to say: "I have been told I cannot say anything and I won't comment about my family."

A close friend of Ms Kemp, Northern Suburbs Rugby coach Greg Mumm, said she had intimated she was not happy in the marriage in conversations over the past six months.

"I've been friends with Liz for a long time - I used to coach her brother at school," Mr Mumm said. "I have spoken to her recently, five or six times in the last six months, and Liz had mentioned problems in passing conversations."

But Mr Mumm said Ms Kemp had been reluctant to speak publicly about the breakup.