MCC president Mark Nicholas on what needs to happen for Ashes urn to travel to Australia for 150th anniversary Test
Mark Nicholas, a man Australian cricket audiences are familiar with from his commentary days, has backed a push to bring the urn to Australia for the 150th anniversary Test next summer.
He was once the voice of Channel Nine cricket but now that voice will offer key support to a plan which would sprinkle stardust on Australia’s greatest Test.
Mark Nicholas, now chairman of the Lords based Marylebone Cricket Club, is supporting the push for the iconic Ashes urn to come to Australia next summer for the 150th anniversary Test between Australia and England at the MCG.
“We really want the Ashes to be here,’’ said Nicholas.
“It’s a very good chance. Absolutely. We just need to look into the way it gets here and the protection of the item. But we have every intention.’’
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The tiny Ashes urn is kept at the MCC museum at Lord’s and a replica is presented to the winning team of each Ashes series.
It would be a coup to have it there for the match in March, 2027, which celebrates the 150th anniversary of the first Test between the two nations.
As well as being chairman of the MCC, Nicholas also works for Super Sport on their Test broadcasts in South Africa.
While his role at the 1787-founded MCC connects Nicholas with the game’s treasured history, his broadcasting job has vividly spotlighted the game’s major challenges such as the preservation of Test cricket.
Incredibly — even though they are world champions — South Africa have programmed no home Tests this summer as they prioritise their own T20 competition.
World Champions. No home Tests. You almost have to say it twice to believe it for it is the most bewildering fact in the entire world cricket schedule.
“It’s a bad miss,’’ Nicholas said. “Especially in a country working so hard to engage its core population in the game of cricket.’’
Nicholas, who has moved back to England where he formerly captained Hampshire, has fond memories of his stint with Nine, particularly living in Australia before Channel Nine’s 40 year hold on the rights ended seven years ago when they were replaced by Fox Sports and Channel Seven.
“I miss the life here. Who wouldn’t miss bringing the game to life on Australian TV in a place which is so passionate about it. But time moves on and so fast. I mean Richie (Benaud), Tony (Greig), Warney - all gone and much lamented.’’
“I love Australia and I loved Sydney we had the fabulous apartment on the water at Bondi.
“We lived a great life there and funnily enough, we were back there last week in our old flat.’’
During his time at Nine, Nicholas got to know its owner Kerry Packer who he said was “revered.’’
Packer was also renowned for his no-nonsense ways and Nicholas smiles at the memory of getting a phone call from Packer in the broadcasting box when he was in Tasmania.
“He summoned me and Tubby (Mark Taylor) and Heals (Ian Healy) to Sydney after he’d given me a dressing down on the phone.
“He said to me ‘son just stop telling us how cold it is in Tasmania. (According to you) Everyone is shivering and eating hot soup and having a s--- time. Well we are having a s--- time listening to you.’’
When the trio got to Sydney, Nicholas said they were “probably terrified but pretended they weren’t’’ when they entered Packer’s office.
“He yelled at us for a while then picked up Jack Nicklaus’ two iron, Arnold Palmer’s one wood, Garry Sobers bat and we spent the afternoon talking cricket and golf and doing demonstrations of strokes and swings and he asked us who we thought were the best players. I’ll never forget it.’’
Originally published as MCC president Mark Nicholas on what needs to happen for Ashes urn to travel to Australia for 150th anniversary Test
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