David Boon - for those of us aspiring sportsmen who don’t have Olympic Athlete physiques or Silver Spoons in our mouths, David Boon is a hero. ‘Boonie’ showed what steely determination and hard work can realize – the mantle as one of Australia’s finest top-order batsmen and close fielders.
Boonie played for Tasmania when it was a fledgling cricket state and to get a Green Baggy cap, first you needed a sky-blue one! His portly figure (and legends about beer-drinking records) belied his fitness and strength. Boon was to become Australia’s top batsman in the early 90’s with brilliant centuries against the West Indies, India, and successive hundreds against England at Lords, Trent Bridge and Headingly. He was to make 21 Test tons, none better than his 184 not out in the second innings of the Bicentennial Test at Sydney to extricate Australia from a potentially match-losing position. He received the player of the match award for that knock and was voted International Cricketer of the Year.
After his playing days finished, David became an Australian Selector and lately an IOC Match Referee.
Boonie never had tickets on himself. His affable nature and humility are always on display. And he’ll set the record straight on those beers!
Allan Border - greatness reveals itself in many ways.
Some people are life-savers, some life-givers. Some have the wisdom to prevent wars, some the courage to fight them. Some have the creativity to make the world an easier place, some the gift to make it a better place.
On the sporting field, greatness has been seen in the breathtaking athleticism of Michael Jordan, the sublime skill of Lionel Messi, the incredible stamina of the Tour de France rider.
In cricket we view greatness in the sheer weight of runs scored by Bradman and Tendulkar, the elegant strokeplay of Gower and Lara and the punishing power of Greenidge and Botham.
But for unyielding courage, bravery and utter defiance, Allan Border embodied greatness as one of Australia’s best batsmen and captain. Some say he was THE best, for when Australian cricket reached its lowest ebb Border gave the nation hope.
Time and again, he went out and saved us: or won us the unwinnable: never taking a backward step.
Batting is easier today than when Border played. Flat pitches, heavy bats, shorter boundaries, and ordinary bowlers favour big – hitting batsmen. Why, even number elevens are scoring big these days.
Border took guard against the greatest bowlers of all time – Imran Khan, Abdul Qadir, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Richard Hadlee, Allan Donald and those West Indians. They were the finest collection of fast bowling talent in the game’s history: Holding, Roberts, Garner, Croft, Marshall, Patterson, Bishop, Ambrose and Walsh.
Border looked them in the eyes throughout his career, never flinching, always counter punching, often the last man standing.
Greatness!
Merv Hughes - One of the true characters of modern day sport, Swervin’ Mervyn’ had a seemingly endless loping run up to the stumps and if he took a wicket most teammates ran for cover. For such a big man he was considered overly affectionate by his fellow players. The odd tongue slipped into an ear was not unheard of.
At his home ground, the MCG, he was especially revered. His warm up routine in front of Bay 13 with the crowd joining in turned him into a cult figure.
Merv still entertains at the highest level and is never far from the spotlight when cricket is the topic.
Roy Symonds - he's a very popular fellow who possesses a very laconic and wry sense of humour. He'll be asked all the tough questions - Michael Clarke/Lara Bingle; Going AWOL on tour; Harbhajan Singh Monkey Taunt; Those Beers/Rum in the West Indies; The Streaker; His Love for Benny Elias; That Catch; The Capsize with Haydos... and so much more! Book Roy for a fun filled day or evening!
