Backroom Baz: Six and out as Martin Pakula’s luck runs short

As the Lawyer X debacle widens, Martin Pakula looms as the luckiest man in the Andrews Government but Victoria’s sports-fan-in-chief’s luck ran out last weekend when captaining a team of politicians against the press gallery in a cricket match.

Jobs and Sports Minister Martin Pakula. Picture: Getty Images

As the Lawyer X debacle widens, Martin Pakula looms as the luckiest man in the Andrews Government.

The former attorney-general could have been stuck dealing with the biggest crisis in the history of the state’s justice system.

Instead, Pakula left that to his good mate Jill Hennessy as he took the reins as Jobs and Sports Minister in the new term.

— Read Backroom Baz’s column, Victoria’s hottest political gossip, in the Sunday Herald Sun today

But Baz has learned Victoria’s sports-fan-in-chief’s luck ran out last weekend when captaining a team of politicians against the press gallery in a cricket match. Pakula brought himself on to open the bowling and was dispatched to all corners of Junction Oval.

KENNETT TELLS SMITH TO SHAPE UP

Jobs and Sports Minister Martin Pakula. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis

He then raced off to a press conference at the MCG, returning soon after to try to guide his team home with the bat.

Instead, Pakula’s stumps were skittled by the 12-year-old son of sports writer Richard Hinds.

Despite a valiant innings from Tim “Kermit” Smith, who insists someone stole his cricket bat and is chasing CCTV of the change rooms; the schoolyard sledging of Labor’s Phil Dalidakis; and a cameo from one-time Test batsman Jeff Moss — the husband of Liberal deputy leader Cindy McLeish — the pollies were defeated.

Pakula’s day didn’t get any better when his beloved Melbourne Stars choked in that afternoon’s Big Bash final.

He’ll be hoping his Navy Blues can turn it around when the footy season returns — but Baz wouldn’t be putting his money on that.

Got any scuttlebutt for Baz? Drop him a tip at [e-mail]