Australia Legend Ian Chappell Calls Time On His 45-year Commentary Career

The legendary Australia National Cricket Team skipper Ian Chappell has officially announced his retirement from cricket commentary. ‘Chappelli’ decided to hang up his microphone after working as a commentator for 45 years.

The 78-year-old Ian Chappell played for Australia National Cricket Team between 1964-1980. He represented the Aussies in 75 Test games, scoring 5345 runs at an average of 42.42, including 14 tons and 26 half-centuries. Also, he played 16 ODIs in his illustrious career and scored 673 runs at an average of 48.07, including 8 fifties.

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After he retired from international cricket in 1980, Chappell started working as a cricket commentator for Channel 9 in the 1980–81 season. He had also worked for ABC as a sports journalist and commentator.

Kerry wanted to sack me a couple of times – Ian Chappell

While talking about his retirement as a cricket commentator, the 78-year-old told the Sydney Morning Herald:

“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***, if you’re clock-watching at that time, I have to go”.

Ian Chappell also revealed that the media tycoon Kerry Packer wanted to sack him a couple of times.

“Kerry wanted to sack me a couple of times. He used to get the shits about one-day cricket because that was his baby … With Kerry, it was just like a storm, you’d let it blow over til the next one came,” Chappell said.

Spending the back half of his career with ABC broadcaster Jim Maxwell, Chappell, who was involved in several controversies during his long commentary career, said that he loved talking life with Wide World of Sports legend Richie Benaud.

Meanwhile, Ian Chappell was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1986, the FICA Cricket Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame in 2003. Also, in 2009 he was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

Also Read: Ireland And Afghanistan Should Not Have Gotten Test Status: Ian Chappell

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