Cricket fans embrace the return of legend Allan Border

Cricket fans have reacted strongly to the return of the legendary figure during the first Test between Australia and India in Perth.

Cricket fans have warmly embraced the return of Allan Border to TV screens during Australia’s first Test against India in Perth.

Border, 69, is a giant of world cricket, the first man to score 10,000 Test runs and inducted among the first group of players to earn ICC Cricket Hall of Fame honours.

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He carried Australian cricket through a difficult period in the 1980s and ended his 156-match Test career holding a swag of records.

The Queenslander still holds the No. 1 spot for consecutive matches as Test captain with 93, well ahead of next best Ricky Ponting (73) and Stephen Fleming (65).

Sadly, Border was also diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease back in 2016, a condition he didn’t make public until June 2023.

Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border presenting the trophy. Photo: Channel 7

Once a regular in commentary boxes around the world, Border has been forced to largely withdraw from public life, so his return at Optus Stadium has thrilled cricket fans.

As you can see in the video player above, Border showed signs of the disease when he and Sunil Gavaskar presented the trophy named after them ahead of day one.

He has since made a number of appearances to commentate on the action on Fox Cricket and the notoriously competitive former skipper would be frustrated by India’s dominance through the first two days.

While the changes in his voice are noticeable, just having the man known as “Captain Grumpy” back on air has been a delight for fans.

“Extremely warming to see Allan Border be part of the pregame and also in commentary again. He is one of Australian crickets greatest legends and set up Australian cricket success under the most dire conditions in the mid 80s,” came a tweet on X from one cricket fan.

Border towards the end of his cricket career. Photo: News Corp

And (right) in the Fox Cricket commentary box this week. Photo: Fox Sports

“So good to see Allan Border in the commentary box, probably the first time I’m listening to him after learning about his Parkinson’s diagnosis. Legend with a terrific record all across the world, fine leader and a fierce competitor. One of my long time heroes,” wrote another.

Others were wishing him well upon his return to commentary duties.

X user Kevin Framp wrote: “Gosh. You can hear the changes in Allan Border’s voice with his health issues. Good to know he’s healthy enough to work though. The epitome of Australian cricket for anyone of my generation.”

Another offered: “It was sad to see, but Allan Border was a brave human. I’m a big fan even though I’m a South African. Go well, brother. Keep trying & keep fighting. Strength to you a & the family. We, sports lovers, will always love you.”

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A third wrote: “Marvellous to hear the great Allan Border on comms.”

Amid Australia’s struggles with the bat, another offered: “I’d love to hear Allan Border explain our batting.”

Border finished his career with 27 centuries, a terrific average of 50.56 and 11,174 runs, second only among Australians to Ponting’s 13,378,

He also captained Australia’s one-day team to victory in the 1987 World Cup and helped guide the Aussies to a hugely successful era in the early 1990s before he retired in 1994.

Border has spoken out a number of times about Parkinson’s, imploring Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to increase the government’s support for the disease, which strikes an estimated 19,500 Australians each year.

He spoke to Fox Cricket in January this year to discuss his own condition, when he was asked if he was scared about the future.

Border calling on Anthony Albanese for more help for Parkinson’s sufferers earlier this year.

“Not so much scared,” Border said. “But I am worried about that slow decline in the process.

“I’ve taken the route, the less I know the better.

“Jane (his wife) has gone the other way. So I do get lectured quite often ‘you haven’t been for a walk in a couple of days’ or haven’t done this or haven’t done that.

“Or ‘what are you doing drinking all those beers’. All the stuff I should be doing.

“I’ve been kept on the straight and narrow by her and a good medical team.”

The illness has struck a number of famous world figures, including Muhammad Ali, comedian Billy Connolly, actor Michael J. Fox and metal singer Ozzy Osbourne.