Allan Border will make his return to the commentary box this summer despite the Australian cricket legend earlier this year stating his career in media is likely over. The 69-year-old was confirmed on Tuesday as being part of Fox Cricket’s commentary team for the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar series against India, which begins on Friday in Perth.
The news comes after Border revealed earlier this year how the effects of his Parkinson’s disease had become impossible to hide as he stepped away from his roles on TV with Fox Sports. The Aussie cricket legend was diagnosed with the disease in 2016 but only went public with the news in 2023.
He revealed last summer that he decided to keep the fact he was suffering from the debilitating condition a secret until he couldn’t anymore, and admitted he isn’t expecting to live to age 80. The former Aussie skipper also made the shock revelation earlier this year that one of the first things he thought of when doctors broke the news was the image of sporting icon Muhammad Ali lighting the cauldron during the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996. Ali was one of the most feared heavyweight boxing champions of all time and the footage of him lighting the cauldron in Atlanta were as inspirational as they were sad.
“I didn’t know much about Parkinson’s,” Border admitted on Fox Cricket. “The first thing that came to my mind at the time was Muhammad Ali lighting the Olympic Cauldron, so I just thought, ‘Oh my god’…As soon as I walked in the door he (the doctor) just said, look Allan I can just tell you have Parkinson’s disease I am sorry to tell you. Just like that, you could have knocked me over with a feather, basically.
“I knew something wasn’t quite right, but I didn’t think it was that bad. It was just a strange feeling and a strange trip home. My better half Jane was with me and we just thought, ‘Bloody hell what does this actually mean?'”
Allan Border’s awful revelation amid sad plight
Border explained in January, that while he is still able to play golf and do everyday tasks, the nature of the disease and its “slow decline process” led him to decide to take a step back from his media roles. However, despite those comments, Border has backflipped on his decision and will return for the Australian summer of cricket.
Border was confirmed as a commentator for the first Test of the Border–Gavaskar series against India at Fox Cricket’s launch event on Tuesday. And while the cricket icon concedes he’s not moving as well as he once did, insists his mind is still sharp and says he is excited to return to the commentary box for the Perth Test, which begins on Friday.
Border captained Australia and scored over 11,000 Test runs for his country at an exemplary average of 50.56. But fans began to suspect something wasn’t right with his health when his wife had to step in for him and present the Allan Border Medal in early 2023. Border was well enough to present the medal to Mitch Marsh earlier this year but looked noticeably different to when he last appeared on TV. But despite this, he will be back in the commentary booth in Perth, with the news of his return met with an outpouring of love and excitement from Aussie cricket fans.
Allan Border worried about impact of David Warner’s absence
Ahead of Australia’s series against India, Border admits he is worried about the impact David Warner‘s absence will have on the team. The cricket icon said despite the tourists heading into the five-Test series on the back of a 3-0 home whitewash against New Zealand, it is the Aussie side who is under the most pressure.
Australia is seeking to end a decade-long drought since last claiming the trophy named jointly after Border and Indian great Sunil Gavaskar. That stretch includes two home Test series defeats in 2018-19 and 2020-21 and while it is India badky out-of-form, Border believes the home side’s batsmen in particular are likely feeling the pressure.
“The home side is because you’re playing (in front of a) home crowd. The expectations are higher when you’re playing at home that you’ll do well,” Border told News Corp. “So obviously the home side, but I don’t think that’s changed. Even in my day, even if we’re playing the West Indies, you still expected to do well at home.”
Border believes India’s pace attack will likely cause the Aussie batsmen plenty of headaches, and expects the home side will miss the steady hands of Warner. “They’ve won the last few series, particularly on the back of fast bowling,” Border continued.
“And then obviously, as the game wears on their spinners come into their own as well. So the bowling side of the equation, I don’t think it’s an issue, but it’s the batting that has been fragile of late…. We have a lot of runs to replace (without) David Warner. On paper, I’m very comfortable, but it’s just, you know, we haven’t played Test cricket for seven months, a lot of white-ball cricket.”
