Ian Chappell announces retirement from cricket writing after 52-year career

Australian cricket legend Ian Chappell has called time on his career in journalism after 52 years.

The 81-year-old played his last game of professional cricket in 1980, but has long been known as one of cricket’s most iconic broadcasters and writers since then.

On Sunday, the former Aussie Test captain announced he was penning his “last column”.

“In my playing days I asked former Australia captain Richie Benaud if retirement was a difficult decision. ‘No Ian,’ Benaud replied wisely, ‘It’s easy. You’ll know the right time’,” Chappell wrote for ESPNcricinfo.

“Always astute, Benaud was correct. Retirement from journalism is similar to cricket — I knew the time was right.”

After his playing days, Chappell formed part of an iconic Australian broadcasting team that included Benaud, Bill Lawry and Tony Grieg.

The legendary quartet narrated Australian cricket for over three decades, spanning some of the game’s greatest eras.

Chappell was best known for his forthright and candid opinions, and was never afraid to be critical of performance.

And while best remembered for his TV career, it’s his work behind his computer which has been the constant for the past 52 years.

“Talented magazine and later website owner Eric Beecher gave me my first writing job in 1973,” Chappell wrote on Sunday.

“He later organised a meeting with Graham Perkin, the editor of The Age, who contracted me to write for the newspaper.

“When we first met, Perkin asked if I’d like a ghost writer. I said I’d like to write my own stuff for six weeks and he could then judge. I never heard from Perkin, so consequently, writing has been all my own work. Sadly, Perkin died way too young, at age 45.

“I’m extremely grateful to my bosses of more than two decades, Clayton Murzello of Mid-Day and Sambit Bal from Cricinfo; they’ve given me free rein and plenty of encouragement.

“For around 40 years I’ve been writing on a computer. The improvement over using a typewriter is mainly the ease of being able to cut and paste. It’s a big advance on having to discard, then rewrite copy paper.

“However, the time has come to close the writing section of my computer. I wish each and every one who has helped and befriended me along the way all the best in their future endeavours.”

Chappell also wrote several cricket books, including his final one — Chappelli: Life, Larrikins and Cricket — from which he got the “most satisfaction”, he said.

Chappell made his Test debut against Pakistan in 1964. He scored 5345 Test runs in 75 matches, including 30 as captain.

He is a member of the Sport Australia Hall of Game, the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, and the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.