Fans rally around Allan Border as Australian cricket legend shares health update

The cricket world has rallied around the former Australian Test captain as he opened up the diagnosis that has changed his life.

The cricket world has commended Allan Border for his honesty and bravery after the inspirational former Australian cricket captain opened up on his battle with Parkinson’s disease.

The 70-year-old has been battling Parkinson’s disease since 2016, but only went public with his diagnosis in 2023.

Parkinson’s is a neurological disease that impacts an individual’s movement and co-ordination.

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Border previously revealed that the incurable neurodegenerative disorder took away his confidence to work for Fox Cricket and also impacted his relationships and ability on the golf course.

But he refuses to allow the debilitating disease to slow him down, as he has made several TV and commentary appearances in the last couple of Aussie summers.

The disease has, however, caused some noticeable changes in the Aussie icon, with his voice different and his movement shaky, far different to how many Aussies remember him.

But the Aussie’s outlook on life has remained positive as he revealed on Ian Botham and Bill Beaumont’s podcast Old Boys New Balls podcast this week, that he feels he doesn’t suffer from Parkinson’s it’s simply just something he lives with.

“I was diagnosed in 2016 and it was a shock to the system and took me a while to come to terms with what it actually meant,” Border said.

You can see Allan Border’s full comments in the player above

Allan Border has given an update on living with Parkinson’s. Image: Getty

“I didn’t go public until two or three years ago, no real reason, just you try to keep it to yourself.

“I thought does the public really need to know but as it turns out it’s probably been the best thing because people understand why occasionally you are a bit squirmy and certain things are very hard to control as a result of the problem.

“I call it living with Parkinson’s rather than suffering from because with the drugs and the different things that are available for Parkinson’s sufferers, it’s not a bad lifestyle.

“I can still play a game of golf and go for a walk.

“It’s not a sentence by any means, but it’s something you’ve got to deal with.”

Allan Border still continues to do various appearances. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

The man popularly known as “Captain Grumpy” has previously revealed he doesn’t expect to live to 80, and the cricket world was quick to praise him on how he has handled himself throughout his diagnosis.

Former England cricketers Michael Carberry and Adam Hollioake wrote “AB- legend sending mad love to mate” and “What a great man”.

David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd said: “Wonderful to hear Allan .. I’m sure we all wish him well … a grand chap”. ️

Cricket fan Ghanasham Apte wrote: “AB is a legend on and off the field”.

Mathew Carter commented: “Allan Border you legend. Always fronting up.”

While others added “Sorry to hear that about Allan,keep your chin up mate, best wishes from the UK” and “AB. One of the greatest, a true legend of the game,as tough as they come. If anybody can deal with what hes been diagnosed with its AB will.”

Allan Border with Ian Botham. Image: Old Boys New Balls on YouTube

Border admits ‘Captain Grumpy’ nickname was fair

Captain Grumpy is a nickname Border has had since his playing days, and the cricket great revealed where it came from.

“There was a little bit of truth in it to be fair,” Border said of if the Captain Grumpy tag was fair.

“It’s a media tag and yeah it’s not easy going into press conferences when you’re being beaten and you are getting a bunch of ridiculous questions like ‘How do you feel?’.

“What do you reckon mate, take a wild guess.

Allan Border tees off in New Zealand (Photo by Rob Jefferies/Getty Images)

“There were moments where it was difficult as a captain to front the media but it’s like everything if you stick at it it gets better.

“The first two to three years as captain was difficult but then things started to turn around and the last three or four when Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath turned up things started to turn around.”

Border scored an incredible 11,174 runs at Test level and is widely regarded as one of Australia’s greatest ever batsmen.

Originally published as Fans rally around Allan Border as Australian cricket legend shares health update