Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese smashes NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet in cricket game
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Anthony Albanese ends embarrassing PM’s cricket tradition as he destroys a delivery of NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet from the park at Kirribilli House
- The Prime Minister hosted a backyard game of cricket at Kirribilli House
- Mr Albanian shone with bat and ball, reversing an embarrassing tradition
- The competition raised $15,000 for the charity of the Ronald McDonald House
- The ‘First Dog’, Toto, even sprang into action and enjoyed her moment in the sun
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Anthony Albanese has taken to the lawns of Kirribilli House to play some backyard cricket – graciously breaking the record of Australian Prime Ministers embarrassing themselves with bat and ball in hand.
Albanian took part in ‘Fitzy and Wippa’s Backyard Cricket game’ at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence in Kirribilli in the shadow of Sydney Harbor Bridge.
Hosted by Nova radio hosts Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald, a former AFL star, and Michael Wipfli, the game featured two star-studded teams led by the presenters.
The Prime Minister led one team with Fitzgerald, while NSW Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet captained the other alongside Wipfli.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese carries the ‘First Dog’, Toto, onto the pitch during a backyard game of cricket at Kirribilli House’s official residence
Mr Albanese was faced with the prospect of self-humiliating like previous Australian Prime Ministers who were very much in the ‘can’t throw, can’t throw’ category – as the late Shane Warne would say.
Former Prime Minister John Howard’s humiliating attempt to bowl in India remains a source of national disgrace, while Bob Hawke had his glasses shattered when he failed to catch a short ball in a political game.
The new prime minister feared he would follow in those footsteps.
“Let me say that as a cricketer I am a good politician,” Mr Albanese said in a pre-match interview.
He needn’t have worried. The Prime Minister knocked a double hopper of Mr Perrottet out of the park with a cross-batted swipe channeling David Warner — and no doubt he would have loved to have beaten the “six and out.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese showed good technique while bowling during the match
Mr Albanian may have looked a little unorthodox at times but managed to hit the ball with good force
Mr Albanese carried the merchandise of his beloved NRL club, the South Sydney Rabbitohs
A crowd of spectators filled the beautiful rolling lawns of the Kirribilli House as the Prime Minister strokes one through cover
Mr Albanese was even better with the ball in hand, with his slightly mechanical action producing good results.
His skills even trickled down to the Prime Minister’s “First Dog,” Toto.
Mr Albanese said on an Instagram story prior to the start of the match that he was confident she would be the ‘man of the match’, ‘because she is very good at chasing balls’.
He had to stop the game once, when the enthusiastic Cavoodle couldn’t resist sprinting onto the field as the ball was bowled.
DOG ON THE SITE! The Prime Minister interrupts the match as the ‘First Dog’, Toto, shoots through the game
NSW Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet shows good hitting technique as he smokes the ball through midwicket as Australian cricketer Nathan Lyon watches
Mr Perrottet also sent some medium-length pacers with the left arm down – although they didn’t always hit the mark
Radio host and former AFL player Ryan Fitzgerald (left) talks to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ahead of the game at Kirribilli House
Celebrities such as Lynne McGranger, Beau Ryan, Conrad Sewell, Richard Wilkins, Ben Fordham and Karl Stefanovic also entered the competition.
Australian cricketers Stella Campbell, Nathan Lyon and Brett Lee tried their best to improve the level of the game.
It wasn’t just a hit and a giggle. $15,000 was raised for Ronald McDonald House Charities in Sydney.