Allan Border will soldier on behind the mike despite Parkinson’s

Allan Border has made two things clear following his announcement that he has Parkinson’s disease – he will stay on as a commentator, but he’s no chance of reaching a ton.

Fox Sports confirmed that the highly respected Border will remain part of the network’s broadcasting team for this summer.

He will be on deck for Australia‘s clashes with Pakistan and the West Indies.

Many Aussie cricket captains and legends such as Richie Benaud, Ian Chappell, Bill Lawry, Greg Chappell, Kim Hughes, Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke have all had stints behind the microphone calling cricket games.

But ‘AB’ has consistently been among the best of them, and one of the most respected throughout the cricketing world.

In 2016 Allan Border found out he had Parkinson’s and kept it secret for years, revealing it now because it is starting to show (pictured with wife Jane that year)

Allan Border was a legendary Australian cricket captain and an in-demand figure on all things cricket when it comes to commentary

Allan Border in his hey day celebrating the now iconic 1987 World Cup final win over India – carried off by on left Dean Jones, on right Craig McDermott with Steve Waugh watching on

For 20 years he has been travelling the world to cover Australian tours overseas long before the network won the home cricket TV rights back in 2018.

Shortly after making his announcement that he had diagnosed with Parkinson’s, he said rather frankly that he was no chance of making it to 80 years of age.

It broke the heart of many to hear but it was delivered in typical upfront, direct Border style.

‘At the moment I’m not scared, not about the immediate future anyway,’ he said to The Australian.

‘I’m 68. If I make 80 that’ll be a miracle. I’ve got a doctor friend and I said if I make 80 that’ll be a miracle, and he said, ‘That will be a miracle.’

‘No way am I going to get another 100, that’s for sure. I’ll just slip slowly into the west.’

Allan Border was one of the finest batters Australia has ever produced

Border was the first player to score 11,000 runs in Tests and captained Australia to a stunning one-day international World Cup victory in 1987.

He received the Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2016 but chose to hide it from the public.

‘I’m a pretty private person and I didn´t want people to feel sorry for me sort of thing,’ he said.

‘Whether people care you don´t know. But I know there´ll come a day when people will notice.’

Legendary teammates of Border such as his vice captain while playing and fellow cricket commentator, Ian Healy, have been devastated by the news.

Ian Healy has a great cricketing mind and he played alongside Border during much of his career believes Border was the architect of Australia’s cricketing revival

‘AB is the architect of Australian cricket’s success since the devastation of the mid-1980s,’ wicketkeeping great Healy said.

‘He singularly stood up to the might of the West Indies in their countries and ours. His fight now turns to this health issue.

‘But, I hate it! He’s about to feel the love of so many people who are willing to help and support him in any ways possible.’

Fox Cricket’s highly regarded colour expert and former teammate Mark Waugh said the silver lining around the dark news of his diagnosis had been lifted knowing he was to stay commentating.

‘I’ve always had the greatest respect for AB as a cricketer. He was a player who I always looked up to,’ Waugh said.

‘He is a pleasure to work with in the commentary box.

‘He was a tough competitor on the field, but you wouldn’t meet a more loyal, honest and genuine person off the field.’

The great Mark Waugh known for his astute commentaries was very pleased to hear AB would be back behind the mike

Australian pace bowler Mitchell Starc reacted to the news that Allan Border had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, telling reporters: ‘It’s sad to hear (that) of one of the greats of Australian cricket, a big character in the world of cricket, and our wishes go out to AB and to the family as well.’ 

After his debut in 1978, Border hammered 30 centuries in 156 Tests.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described Border as a ‘great Australian’ on Saturday at a Press Conference.

‘He showed his courage — anyone who recalls him taking on the might of the West Indies’ fast-pace attack, as he did almost single handedly all those years ago, and his captaincy of Australia, he is a great Australian,’ he said.

He retired in 1994 with a 50.56 batting average placing him among the enduring greats of the sport. 

One of 55 inaugural ICC Cricket Hall of Fame inductees in 2009, Border carved out one of the all-time great cricket careers. 

The famous Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia is named after him and former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar.