Ex-Aussie Skipper Ian Chappell Ends 45-Year Commentary Career

Ian Chappell, the 78-year-old former Aussie skipper, is popular all over the world for his incisive views on the game and his straightforward way of putting them forward.

Cricketer-turned-commentator Ian Chappell is popular all over the world for his incisive views.

Source : ICC / Twitter

Ian Chappell retires from cricket commentary: Australian cricket team's former captain Ian Chappell announced his retirement from cricket commentary. The veteran has put an end to a legendary and illustrious 45-years-old cricket commentary career. Chappell, the 78-year-old former Aussie skipper, is popular all over the world for his incisive views on the game and his straightforward way of putting them forward. Chappell was part of Australian cricket's broadcasting team for more than three decades along with Richie Benaud, Bill Lawry, and Tony Greig.

"I remember the day when I knew I'd had enough of playing cricket. I looked at the clock and it was five past 11 on a day of play and I thought, 'S**t, if you're clock-watching at that time, I have to go'," said Chappell, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.

"So when it comes to commentary, I've been thinking about it. I had a minor stroke a few years back and I got off lucky. But it just makes everything harder. And I just thought with all the travel and, you know, walking upstairs and things like that, it's all just going to get harder. Then I read what Rabbits [legendary rugby league commentator Ray Warren] said with retirement and it really struck home when I read the bit where he said, 'you're always one sentence closer to making a mistake'," he added.

Chappell represented the Australian cricket team in 75 Test matches, in which he played as captain in 30 Test matches.

"Kerry [Packer, the media mogul who owned Channel Nine] wanted to sack me a couple of times. He used to get the s***s about one-day cricket, because that was his baby. And I might have said something about one-day cricket. With Kerry it was just like a storm - you'd let it blow over till the next one came," said Chappell.

"It's up to other people to decide what they think of me and some will think I've been all right. Some will think I've been a pr**k. That doesn't bother me one bit," he added.