David Boon Biography
Possibly Tasmania’s all-time favourite cricketing son, David Boon was a pugnacious right-hand batter who served his state and country with enormous distinction. He was not always the most stylish player, but he more than compensated for what he lacked in fluency with his ardour for occupying the crease and accumulating runs when they were most needed.
As an 18-year-old, Boon played a starring role in Tasmania’s history-making Gillette Cup win in 1978–79, the state’s first interstate one-day title, and he never really looked back over the course of an elite-level career which spanned 17 years. Among many highlights were his roles in four Ashes series wins, particularly the 1989 one, and his honour in hitting the series-winning runs; his flawless unbeaten 184 in the Bicentenary Test of 1988; and his Man-of-the-Match-winning effort in the 1987 World Cup final.
Predominantly a №3, Boon’s durability was a vital ingredient in Australia’s resurgence as a cricketing power in the late 1980s and early 1990s. His courage was often at the core of Australian performances and it was common to see his belligerent square-cutting, driving and pulling upsetting the rhythm of even the finest bowlers.
Aside from a range of triumphs with Australia during 107 Tests and 181 ODIs, Boon also led Durham in the English County Championship between 1997 and 1999, guiding the side to its best finish in the last of these three years. He was also appointed to the post of Tasmania captain at different ends of his career and was at the helm when his state enjoyed a fruitful first-class season in 1997–98.
After retiring from all cricket following the completion of the 1999 county programme, Boon accepted a position in marketing with the Tasmanian Cricket Association in Hobart, and in 2000 he replaced Geoff Marsh, his friend and former opening partner, as an Australia selector. In 2011 he stepped down from the selection panel to start a new career as an ICC match referee. Boon’s legend also lives on at the NTCA ground in his home city of Launceston, where a major stand has been named after him. In 2015, Bellerive Oval in Hobart renamed its Southern Stand in his honour.
