Revealed: Why Aussie legend David Boon who famously drank 52 cans of beer on a flight to London is being hailed by the cricket world 26 years after he played his last game

Daily Mail​

01-05-2025

An emotional David Boon has been saluted at the end of a distinguished career as an international cricket match referee that lasted even longer than his illustrious spell as one of Australia 's most beloved Test players.
The still unmistakable figure of the stocky, lavishly moustachioed 'Boonie' finished overseeing the last of nearly 400 international matches in the Bangladesh city of Chattogram on Wednesday as the hosts beat Zimbabwe.
And the departure of the 64-year-old, who's going on to join Cricket Australia as a Board Director, had the sport's world governing body, the International Cricket Council, raising a tinnie to the popular Tasmanian they believe has set the benchmark for all match officials.
Boon himself declared after 14 impressive years in the role - two years more than he even served as a hugely successful international batter: 'I hope that I leave having made a difference and contributed to officiating the world game.'
Still a much loved and respected figure among the new generation of players, such is the mythology that surrounded his days in the baggy green on and off the field, it's sometimes forgotten how Boon subsequently carved out such a quiet, authoritative 'second career' as a match ref.
Those tales of his playing heyday - headed famously by the time he flew off to the 1989 Ashes and supposedly consumed a record 52 cans of beer on the flight - have always, Boon feels, more than a mite ruefully, been 'greatly embellished down the years'.
What was absolute fact from that tour, though, was how he went on to average 55 through the series that Australia dominated - the sort of professionalism which then underpinned his officiating career after he'd scored 7422 Test runs and 5964 more in ODIs.
Congratulating him on 'outstanding service', ICC Chair Jay Shah, said: 'Over the years, he has combined his unparalleled experience as a world-class player with a remarkable level of patience and keen attention to detail.
'David's fair-minded judgements and thoughtful insights consistently earned the respect of players, support staff, and colleagues alike.
'His professionalism and integrity have set a benchmark for match officials across the sport.
'We know that Australian cricket will benefit greatly from his expertise and vision.'
Boon himself wanted to pay his own tribute to his wife Pip after a globetrotting career that saw him officiate at 396 international matches - 87 Tests, 183 ODIs and 119 T20Is in the men's game and seven Women's T20Is.
'It is with mixed emotions that I finish my time as a match referee with the ICC. It has been an incredible honour and pleasure to be a part of this journey spanning nearly 14 years,' he said.
'I am grateful for the opportunity including the challenges, the many cherished memories and friendships I've made along the way.
'I feel privileged to have stayed so connected to our great game, witnessing international cricket from such close quarters.
'I extend my thanks to all the umpires I have worked with and my fellow referees for being such fantastic colleagues and, more notably, great people.
'Most importantly and critically, the strength, support and encouragement of my family, especially my wife Pip, cannot be measured along with those close friends at home who care during times of absence.
'I will stay associated with the game in my new role as a Board Director of Cricket Australia and hopefully I can continue to make a positive contribution to the game.'