Brett Lee is hopeful he can help Ireland repeat the giant-killing feats of their past two World Cup campaigns.

The Irish minnows upset Test nations at the 2007 and 2011 ICC World Cups and their campaign for the coming tournament has received a boost with Lee signing on as bowling coach.

“It’s a really good opportunity for me to put something back into cricket,” Lee said.

“My allegiance is obviously with Australia, but it wouldn’t be fair of me not to take the opportunity to try and pass on some knowledge to some younger players coming through.

“I was lucky enough to have greats like Wasim Akram, Courtney Walsh and Allan Donald pass on some knowledge to me. Hopefully I can do something similar for these young Irish fast bowlers.”

Cricket Ireland’s announcement on Thursday that it had secured the recently retired quick’s services came hours after confirmation that former Australia batsman Mike Hussey had been drafted by South Africa.

One of the fastest bowlers of his generation, Lee took 310 wickets in 76 Tests with his 221 one-day internationals yielding 380 wickets.

Ireland coach Phil Simmons is delighted to have a bowler of Lee’s calibre available to mentor his pace attack.

“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,” said Simmons in a Cricket Ireland statement.

Lee, 38, bowed out of playing all forms of professional cricket last month after narrowly missing out on a last-ball hat-trick in the Sydney Sixers’ defeat by the Perth Scorchers in the final of the Big Bash League.

Earlier on Thursday, South Africa coach Russell Domingo said the 39-year-old Hussey, would act as a consultant to the Proteas as they sought to win a first World Cup title.

As well as playing 79 Tests, Hussey, who retired in 2013, is regarded as one of Australia’s greatest one-day players, averaging 48.15 from his 185 internationals.

The Irish play Sydney grade club side Randwick-Petersham in a 50-over friendly on Friday before official warm-up games against Scotland (Tuesday) and Bangladesh (Thursday).

Both Ireland and South Africa, who are not in the same World Cup group as Australia, begin the tournament proper with matches in New Zealand.

South Africa face African neighbours Zimbabwe in Hamilton on February 15 while Ireland open their Pool B campaign against the West Indies in Nelson a day later.