Allan Border reveals battle with Parkinson’s disease

One of Australia’s greatest ever cricketers Allan Border has revealed he is battling a deadly disease, but the former Test skipper says he doesn’t want anyone to feel sorry for him.

Allan Border, among the greatest captains to lead the Australian men’s cricket team, has revealed he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

In an emotional article penned by Fox Sports’ executive director Steve Crawley in The Australian, Border disclosed he was informed of his Parkinson’s seven years ago.

“I get the feeling I’m a hell of a lot better off than most,” Border said. “At the moment I’m not scared, not about the immediate future anyway. I’m 68. If I make 80 that’ll be a miracle.”

He continued: “No way am I going to get another 100, that’s for sure. I’ll just slip slowly into the west.”

Border represented Australia in 156 Tests and 273 one-day internationals in a decorated 15-year career. After inheriting the captaincy from Kim Hughes, Border led Australia from a period of hardship to an era of triumph, highlighted by breakthrough victories at the 1987 World Cup and 1989 Ashes.

Cricketing legend Allan Border is battling Parkinson’s disease. Picture David Clark

Since his retirement from international cricket in 1994, Border has served in a number of roles including as a long-serving member of the Fox Sports’ commentary team.

Viewers took to social media on several occasions last summer to express concerns for Border’s health. He was also absent from the Australian Cricket Awards in January due to illness. His wife Jane presented Steve Smith with the Allan Border Medal.

“I walked into the neurosurgeon’s and he said straight up, ‘I’m sorry to tell you but you’ve got Parkinson’s’,” Border told The Australian about his diagnosis in March, 2016.

“‘Just the way you walked in’, he said, ‘Your arms straight down by your side, hanging not swinging.’ He could just tell.”

Border added: “I’m a pretty private person. And I didn’t want people to feel sorry for me.”