Boon thirsty for the truth (2 December 1998)

2 December 1998

Boon thirsty for the truth

by Kevin Tutty

David Boon set all manner of cricket records in a long career with Australia, but there is one record he would rather not have.

He is the reluctant bearer of the record thanks to his former team-mate, Merv Hughes. On a flight to England for an Ashes series several years ago the pugnacious Tasmanian was alleged to have consumed enough cans to satisfy the weekly requirement of a jungle platoon.

"It's all a Merv Hughes fairy tale," said Boon at Christchurch Airport yesterday. He had arrived for the launch of Chris Harris's benefit season last night at the Christchurch Casino.

"Everyone had a beer on the flight and I copped the brunt of it and I've been copping it ever since. We had a few but not the quantity (58 is the supposed record) that he's been saying. You're supposed to be dead if you have that much."

While most of his contemporaries have shuffled off the first-class scene, Boon, at 38 is still a part of it, although he concedes his career is nearing an end.

The pugnacious former opening batsman is playing Sheffield Shield cricket for his beloved Tasmania, and has a year to fulfil on a contract with the English county, Durham.

Asked if this will be his swansong season for Tasmania, the reply was diplomatic.

"I've told the Tasmanian chairman that I will make up my mind after Christmas, so I'd better not tell you because he does read papers from overseas."

Boon is in Christchurch for a day.

"Chris has timed the launch perfectly. We finished a (Sheffield) Shield match on Sunday and our next one is a one-day game this Sunday.

"They asked me to stay on for the golf day tomorrow but I've got some business to return to in Australia."

Boon was happy to help launch Harris's benefit. "I've known Chris for a lot of years. We played a lot of one-day cricket against each other and for the last couple of years we have seen a bit of each other in England."

Boon has seen little of the New Zealand team in the last two years and could offer little to help. "New Zealand has had some good teams and they just have to bide their time and hope the guys they have got come through."

Boon was as thrilled as his countrymen at the win in the second Ashes test which ended prematurely at Perth on Monday.

Was he disappointed the English batsmen did not make it more of a game?

"No. Not at all mate. NOT AT ALL."

Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)