- Prime Minister abandons Easy Catch while playing cricket in the garden
- Mr Albanese played with Australian stars
- Howler continues to curse PM’s sport
Few would compare Anthony Albanese to John Howard, but perhaps that needs to be rethought after the former’s exploits on the cricket field.
Channeling the former Prime Minister’s famous shocking bowling, Mr Albanese pumped up his lines on Wednesday by dropping a simple catch during a charity cricket match at Kirribilli House.
The Prime Minister certainly looked professional in his white attire, but his eye-catching form was anything but an easy fall leaving his guests politely trying to stifle bursts of laughter at his misfortune.
If that wasn’t embarrassing enough for the proud South Sydney fan, just meters away from him stood Rabbitohs and NSW hooker Damien Cook.
Cook was just one famous name watching the Prime Minister’s hurler, with Matildas star Cortnee Vine, Grand Slam tennis champion Lleyton Hewitt, sprinter Matt Shirvington and ultra-fast bowler Brett Lee all surely little impressed by the leadership of the nation.
Mr Albanese channeled John Howard’s famous shocking bowling on Wednesday
Prime Minister misses simple catch during charity cricket match at Kirribilli House
This perpetuates the curse of Australian Prime Ministers on the sporting field. Mr Albanese’s mistake was perhaps not as bad as Mr Howard’s in Pakistan in 2005, where he could barely put the ball on the field.
Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke had some trouble with the bat in 1984, hitting his face and breaking his glasses during a match against journalists.
But nothing worse than Scott Morrison tackling a seven-year-old during last year’s election campaign.
What made things even more awkward for Mr Morrison was that he was playing football, his brutal kick being much more suited to the rugby field.
In Kirribilli, NSW Premier Chris Minns fueled speculation he might be suited to federal politics, playing exceptional moves to clearly outshine the premier on his deck.
Some of Australia’s biggest sporting stars were taking part in the charity match and were heard making fun of the Prime Minister after he missed the catch.
Mr Albanese’s mistake was perhaps not as bad as Mr Howard’s in Pakistan in 2005, where he could barely put the ball on the field.
Spectators suggested Mr Albanese had warned his visitors that he was not a great cricketer and had taken his catch in good humor.
He asked for a degree of leniency with bat in hand, reminding Cook of his Rabbitoh’s “life member” status before facing him.
The ‘Fitzy and Wippa with Kate Ritchie’s Backyard Cricket First XI’ match raised funds for the Ronald McDonald House charities in Sydney and Batyr in Australia.
