Actor and author Adam Zwar chronicles a life devoted to cricket and finds its flawed stars and heroes in adversity provided the tent pole for an uncertain world.
Underarm: The Ball That Changed Cricket, for which he faced an over of Brett Lee’s 145km/h zingers without a helmet.
While Zwar’s role models were Border, Waugh and Dean Jones, he also drew strength from figures like former England captain Tony Greig, then a commentator for Channel Nine, who was known for his weather wall and pre-match gardening with his car keys in the pitch. He rates the 1999 World Cup as the happiest he has ever been, citing super-human efforts from Waugh and Shane Warne’s bowling in the final against Pakistan.
And as with Matthews, it is the flawed but resilient characters who most fascinate him. So he compares an early flirtation with Kim Hughes as a shandy to a later conversion to the “neat Jack Daniels of Dennis Lillee and Rodney Marsh”. And while Zwar’s childhood anxiety subsided long ago, cricket remains a comfort as he works in an industry rife with stresses and uncertainty.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ex-England skipper's bleak Ashes admissionThe campaign against the dominant Aussies has continued in the UK - despite a glaring statistic. 9WWOS
Read more »
Injured Root misses chance to march MarnusOllie Robinson keeping the speedies on for bowling off spin is a whole mood. 😎 Live 👉 9WWOS Ashes
Read more »
Aussie moguls star Anthony wins World Cup double in preparation for Beijing Winter OlympicsAussie moguls star Jakara Anthony completes magnificent World Cup double at Alpe d'Huez on another successful day for Australia's Winter Olympians.
Read more »
Aussie darts dad through to next round of world championships, awaits son's resultsAustralian dad Ray Smith reaches the second round of the world darts championships, watched on by fellow competitor and son, Ky, who competes on Sunday.
Read more »
STUMPS: Australia set for huge fourth day leadC'mon fellas... 🤦♂️ Live 👉 9WWOS Cricket Ashes
Read more »
My giant one-year-old weighs 16kg and has to wear adult nappiesThis little heavyweight from Sydney weighed more than 4kg at birth and has ballooned in size even more since, leading to some unique problems.
Read more »