The price of fame

Stephen Corby recounts in Sydney's Daily Telegraph how cricketers have to deal with adoration of the public - often drunk and full of tales of third grade cricket.

The only saving grace was that, being less familiar with the Swahili-slur of said friend than I, McGrath probably missed most of it. He didn’t punch him, anyway, which was a good sign. The highlights included: “Yeah, you were all right, but you should have retired years ago.”

“You’re nothing special, really, I mean, you jush did the bas-hic!s well.”

“I play third grade cricket for Mosman, and I reckon I could belt you all over the park.”