I was nine years old when Don Bradman scored the most famous duck in history in his last Test at The Oval in 1948.
There was no television in those days, so I had to jump a tram two days later to top of the Wynyard ramp in Sydney to watch black and white newsreel coverage of how my first sporting hero was bowled by little known leggie Eric Hollies.
It was a devastating exercise, how could the greatest batsman of all time end his career by being bowled for a duck?
The newsreel was a continous 90 minutes, so I sat through a whole lot of uninteresting footage until The Don’s duck came up again just to devastate myself one more time.
That was the first time I was really disappointed, I even had tears I revered hm so much.
(Photo by S&G/PA Images via Getty Images)
It took until 1960 for the second when Herb Elliott caught everyone by surprise by retiring at 23 after winning an Olympic 1500 metre track gold in Rome, smashing his own world record by half a second.
“I have nothing more to prove,” was his explanation, denying his many fans around the world who marvelled at his consumate ease as the greatest miler/1500 athlete, never beaten over either distance.
Elliott was a magnificent athlete, and he went out on a massive high by beating Frenchman Michael Jazy by 27 metres, still to this day a record Olympic 1500 margin with a three second gap.
His time that memorable day of 3.35.6 was so sensational he would have won seven of the next nine Olympics over 36 years.
But it was a bitter disappointment when Herb Elliott called it a day so early, watching him was sheer poetry in motion.
Just like Ken Rosewall’s backhand.
‘Muscles’ deserved many more Slams, but he was ineligible for 40 of them while he was a pro and the Slams were amateur.
His biggest dsappointment was not winning Wimbledon, the only Slam missing on his CV.
Rosewall reached the final at the home of tennis four times, only to lose to Jaroslav Drobny in 1954 in four sets, to his tennis twin Lew Hoad in 1956 in four, and John Newcombe in five in 1970.
But for me the biggest disappointment was watching the great Australian being humiliated by the brash American Jimmy Connors 6-1 6-1 6-4 in the 1974 final. It was hardly the way Ken Rosewall should have bowed out.
The 1981-82 Wallabies were the next big disappointments.
Led by Tony Shaw, and coached by Bob Templeton, they were good enough to win Australia’s first Grand Slam.
But the tour was ruined by a bitter Queensland versus NSW confrontation that surfaced after beating Ireland at Lansdowne Road.
Apart from my media responsibilities, I was also the tour leader of 104 Wallaby passionate supporters who joined the tour after Ireland.
They were treated to losses to Wales, Scotland, and England as the confrontation took hold and the tour fell apart.
The disappointment among those 104 supporters was massive, and an indictment of the Wallaby management that allowed that confrontation to fester.
(Photo by Getty Images)
Jeff Fenech was my next disapppoinment in 1991.
Looking for his fourth divisional world title as a super featherweight he fought tough Ghanian Azumah Nelson at the famous Caesars Palace in Las Vegas as the undercard to the Mike Tyson-Razor Ruddock heavyweight title bout.
Over 12 rounds that were so ferocious the hair stood up on the back of my neck, corrupt judges came through with a draw despite Fenech was clearly the winner as Tyson supported later.
The decision left a really bad taste.
Five years later Greg Norman blew a six-shot lead in the final round over playing partner Nick Faldo at the Masters.
Norman fans never got used to the Shark losing, especially in play-offs in all four majors.
But this Masters was very different. How could the world’s number one golfer lead by six and lose by four to Faldo, but still finish second?
It will remain one of international sports greatest mysteries.
Until Steve Smith committed sporting suicide in Cape Town over premeditated ball tampering.
How could such a proud and level-headed player – the captain of his country – destroy the rest of his life when he was on top of the world as the best Test batsman on the planet?
By his own passion and dedication he turned himself from a promising leggie on debut batting eight-nine into a top order run-getting machine averaging mid 60s.
It just doesn’t make any sense.
I’ve been privileged to know every Australian cricket captain from Sir Donald Bradman on with the exception of Michael Clarke, who I never bothered to meet.
Steve Smith faces up to tampering allegations. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)
Steve Smith was right up there with the best, and a top bloke.
Now he’s stripped of his baggy green captaincy, and highly unlikely to ever regain the huge honour.
He’s also been stripped ouf his IPL captaincy, and bit by bit all the doors he has opened through his easy going nature and his decency, are slamming shut.
It’s a sporting tragedy, but Steve Smith has only himself to blame.
He is the biggest sporting disappointment of my life, after giving so much pleasure to millions.
Al
Guest
Don’t ask.... it’s too painful.
anon
Roar Pro
Didn't know you had such an intimate connection to big-name Australian athletes. Great article. You might thought Smith was a top bloke but I always thought as a person and captain he was arrogant, petty in using his position to avenge personal grudges, immature, poor tactician on field. I thought his treatment of Maxwell back in January was abysmal and unbecoming of a leader. Just his general demeanour on the field was often horrible. Absolutely not in the mould of a Waugh or Taylor in that he routinely made sub-optimal decisions on field. It's a blessing in disguise he's no longer captain. He's arrogant, immature, and divisive. Smith will be punished, he will serve that punishment, he will come back a better man. In fact he might come back as the right man to lead Australia -- but he'll never get that opportunity again. He's blown it. Australians are forgiving. I've never liked the guy as a person. I thought his determination and will to win as captain and batsman was tremendous. He'll get his second chance and in all probability he'll be a better man for it. Smith will get his chance to create a second act in his career. Lehmann is done and so is Warner.
Shane
Guest
Yeah,nah, you are full of it.
maccaa62
Roar Rookie
Are you going to tell us .....Why not Clarke?
Fadida
Guest
My point is that as cricket in Australia is played by white Australians the seedier elements of the game are overlooked or forgiven by the general public.
Targa
Guest
Herb Elliot probably saw Peter Snell in the 800m so decided to retire.
Superba
Guest
David , Faf duP's punishment has nothing to do with this .Nothing at all . Smith and Warner will be treated according to the standards Aus cricket espouses ie "we play hard and fair ,we do not cheat ". A standard of which SA cannot speak without getting laughed at if one recalls Hansie and more recently Faf and Philander .CA will punish them in accordance with the Australian standard they are expected to uphold - Not the SA or Indian standards.
handles
Guest
Well written David.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
25% of aussies are of celtic origin. Lyon and Cummins for example. Khawaja is from Pakistan and Paine is from Tasmania (just kidding). To say it's all some obnoxious trait held only by people of Anglo-Saxon origin is absurd. To be fair though throughout history you were lucky to live to regret to see a boat load of pommies hove into view so I can see why you say it. I agree with you about the over the top charging down the wicket stuff ( Warne was terrible and he was sometimes assisted by Dazza Hair) but while irritating, over appealing is not cheating. Not walking when caught behind might be and all countries do that when the reviews are gone or even when they are not. Dunno if you still play cricket but there are truckloads of Indian, SL, Banger and Pak descended players and lots go nuts at anything remotely near an edge or hitting the pad.. Did you happen to see the end of the Banger vs Afghanistan 20/20? That was worse than De Kock vs Warner and you never heard a peep in the mainstream media. I'm not defending the aussies for cheating either. There is a double standard hear though as for some reason creative lacquering is not as cheaty as a bit of DIY sanding. Sledging has come back to haunt them as they have lost the plot and 2 test matches since. So maybe it will lead to better behaviour and that can only be a good thing.
Malo
Guest
Warne was a serial cheat.
fadida
Guest
Does the fact everyone over appeals make it ok? Does everyone cheating make it ok? Isn't that the argument for yhose defending tampering?? Have a look around, cricket in Australia is played predominantly by white, Anglo Saxon stock. Look at the surnames of our cricket team
rainstorms
Guest
This series was billed as the two best bowling attacks in the world but Smith still felt the need to cheat with the ball. Why did he have no faith in Starc, Cummins, Hazelwood & the goat to get the job done? Smith is frustrated at not batting well, got hit in the armpit by Rabada, is sick of getting out to a bowler he doesn't rate in Maharaj and never thought twice about consequences or the impact it would have.
Big Daddy
Guest
If Smith,Warner and co only receive light suspensions and go back in the team nothing has changed. If they go heavy handed and put the culprits out for an extended period the culprits may say it's all too hard and quit and go and play IPL for the rest of their careers. One thing is certain is Lehman must go but I am not convinced that we have anybody suitable to sort this lot out. Somebody mentioned mccullum who would be perfect . We already an English batting coach. We definitely want a no nonsense person who won't take crap from the player's. Appointing someone from the current system who are part of the old boys school doesn't change a lot.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
I like the mythology that illegal shining is not as bad scouring. As above some boards are more tolerant of cheating apparently. Anyway the real secret is back sweat. Goes all over the shop. You must have come across a few dodgies in grade David?
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Thanks Lordy, it is indeed a sporting tragedy what Smith has concocted. The guy was being lauded all summer as potentially being one of our all time greats. I still can’t believe he hatched something like this and threw Bancroft under the bus.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
White doesn't equal Anglo Saxon Fad. Over appealing is done by everyone.
Rats
Guest
Agreed.. one year sounds reasonable.
Jake
Guest
On the contrary Rats, i expect CA to have an infinite amount more stomach than the spineless ECB, CSA and BCCI. Smith and Warner should be gone for 12 months at least. Lehman gone for good.
Sydneysider
Guest
Well said Fadida.
David Lord
Expert
Nick, your last 10 words answers your own question. Tampering has been going on since Captain Cook played for Botany Harriers. Any punishment since has been treated with contempt, so hitting the current crop involved with tampering must be akin to hitting them with the kitchen sink so anyone in the future knows full well he won't get off lightly ever again.