Allan Border AO was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1990 as an Athlete member for his contribution to the sport of cricket.

Border made his Test debut in the 1978/79 series against England. In 1987, he became Australia’s highest run scorer in Test cricket, making 7,343 runs from 94 Tests and went on to become the world’s top Test scorer with 11,174 runs (a record held until November 2005 when it was passed by the West Indian Brian Lara) and most capped Test player with 156 matches, including a record 153 consecutive. A more than capable spinner, and a dogged fielder with a lethal throwing arm, Border was the heart and soul of the Australian cricket side for more than a decade.

Border assumed the national captaincy in 1984, following Kim Hughes’ distraught resignation and led the team through some of its darkest days. Australia’s cricketing fortunes were in a slump, and the way ahead was uncertain, however, Border’s hard-edged leadership and determined partnership with coach Bob Simpson AO MBE during the perilous 1980’s helped create a golden era extending to the current day. Affectionately known as ‘Captain Grumpy’ by many, he was also ‘AB’ – and the saviour of Australian cricket – to a generation of spectators and commentators.

Under this leadership, Australia emerged triumphant on two fronts. The first occasion was in 1987, when Australia overcame England by seven runs in Calcutta to win the World Cup. The second great achievement, however, eclipsed the World Cup win tenfold when, in 1989, Border led a revitalised team against England to win the Ashes. The Australian combination could do no wrong, and Border was the inspiration behind much of the side’s success. It was a time for all who followed Australian cricket to treasure.

Throughout his career, Border set a remarkable number of World Records, including:

• The first player to play 150 Test Matches
• The first player to score 11,000 Test runs
• The first player to have scored 150 in each innings of a Test (150* and 153)
• The first player to have scored 100 in each innings of a Test and taken 10 wickets in a match

After retiring from international cricket in 1994, at the end of a tour of South Africa, he returned to domestic cricket, where he played a key role in Queensland securing its first ever Sheffield Shield victory in 1994/95. Border then turned his hand to coaching and took the reins of the Australia ‘A’ side, diversifying his involvement in the game. In 1998, he was a national selector and held that position until the beginning of 2005 when he resigned to take up a role in the media. Border then re-joined the national selection panel in a temporary guidance role to new Chairman, Andrew Hilditch before making a move back into the media in roles with Fox Sports.

Honours & Achievements

1982: Named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year
1986: Made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
1989: Made an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO)
1990: Voted Australian of the Year in 1990
1990: Inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame
1994: Named Queenslander of the Year
2000: Inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame
2000: Received an Australian Sports Medal
2000: Named as 12th man in Australia’s Greatest Ever ODI Team
2000: Award for best male Australian cricketer named in his honour
2009: Inducted into the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame
2021: Named an Australia Post Legend of Cricket
2021: Had a bronze statue made in his honour unveiled at the Gabba