Prime Minister John Howard given excuse for embarrassing bowling in 2005

Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard now has an explanation for one of the most embarrassing images of his political career.

After years of embarrassment, former Australian Prime Minister John Howard may finally have some reprieve from the jokes after arguably the worst-ever balls bowled in the name of cricket.

While visiting an earthquake ravaged Pakistan in 2005, Australian military personnel invited the Prime Minister to join in a game of cricket with local children.

What happened next is probably one of the most replayed balls in cricket history.

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Howard bowled three balls with none making it to the batsman and bouncing several times.

In 2015, while speaking at King’s College, Howard explained that it was difficult to bowl.

“They had a ball that was basically the inside of a tennis ball with some white tape around it,’’ he said at the time.

“And of course I had a go and it stuck in my hand … and of course it played for ever and a day afterwards.”

John Howard tearing in from the Vulture St end.

Speaking at the Bradman Foundation Gala Dinner at the SCG last week, Howard said it was one of the big regrets of his political career.

“I’ve often been asked ‘what was the biggest mistake I made as Prime Minister?,’” Howard said. “And I said, ‘allowing the Pakistani army to talk me into bowling’.”

But The Daily Telegraph revealed Sergeant Michael Gunn took the blame for the moment, admitting his culpability to the former PM.

“Sir, it’s an absolute honour to be up here, it really is,” said Sergeant Michael Gunn.

“ … I must be held a little bit responsible for the bowling incident, as I taped up the ball.

“There may or may not have been (too much tape) stuck to sir’s hand.”

He also presented Howard with the ball from the day.

@scg last night, former PM John Howard reunited with The Ball he played cricket with, Pakistan 2005 when visiting ADF/RAAF supporting Pakistan after earthquakes. Thanks RAAF's Sgt Michael Gunn presenting the ball to John Howard. @MoAD_Canberra @ParliamentHouse @FoxCricket pic.twitter.com/gJ8eyaQEHb

— Bradman Museum Bowral (@CricketHOF) November 14, 2019

Howard admitted that visiting service men and women was one of the highlights of his time as Prime Minister.

“On a very serious note, of all the things I did when I was Prime Minister, none gave me greater inspiration and pride as an Australian than to visit the men and women of the ADF when they were deployed overseas,” he said.

Following the bowling, some long forgotten footage of Howard playing a back foot pull shot was shown with the former PM connecting pretty well.

That’s not how you bat Mr Prime Minister.

Former Australian superstar Mike Hussey said the now 80-year-old appeared to look good with the willow in hand.

“Pretty impressive actually,” he said. “I thought there was a bit of Bradman in there. I liked the way he gets off the back foot and plays those pull shots. I reckon in an earlier life he would have been a pretty decent player.”