It is Wednesday 5 January 1994 and one of the more memorable SCG Test Matches is in the balance with Australia finishing day four at 4-63 with Allan Border at the crease with Mark Waugh with Fanie De Villiers on a roll having dismissed Slater, Boon, nightwatchman Tim May and opener Mark Taylor in an inspired spell late in the day.

High quality Test Match cricket was unfolding before our eyes in a low scoring game that could still go either way with Australia chasing the target of 117. Things were tense, AB was coming to the close of his career, and in fact this is the last time I would see him bat live. He had made 49 in the first innings before he was out caught behind off the bowling of De Villiers.

These facts all fade into the background for me however, with the highlight of the test match coming for me after stumps on day four when my brother and I were milling around out the back of the Member’s Stand chasing autographs. Top of our list was the skipper who we were hoping to catch before he pulled stumps on his career.

We waited quite some time before we spotted AB trying to make his way discreetly out of the ground on his way to the team bus. There was no time to lose and we did not want to miss out, so I raced up to the great man with a poster in hand ready to ask the question.

Trying my best, I asked the question as politely as I could. AB stopped, looked at my brother and dropped his bags on the ground letting us know that in order for us to have his autograph we would have to carry his bags to the bus.

As loyal members of the Duncan Fearnley Junior Cricket Club, it was certainly a privilege to have this honour bestowed upon us. It is not every day that the Australian captain asks you for a favour and we made sure we did not let him down.

Once the bags were securely stowed under the bus, AB having signed plenty of autographs for the others on a similar quest to ours, we had accomplished our mission and secured what we considered the pièce de résistance.

Unfortunately, Australia did not get the job done the following day with South Africa claiming a remarkable 5 run victory as Australia collapsed to be all out for 111. AR Border was bowled by Allan Donald without adding to his overnight score and Fanie De Villiers the hero for the visitors finishing with 6-43 off 23.3 overs.

Border’s men bounced back in Adelaide before the skipper led the team for three more Test Matches in South Africa before retiring with an incredible 11 174 runs to his name at 50.56. Phenomenal numbers for the man who took over the captaincy from Kim Hughes in what was a tough period for Australian cricket.

When people ask me my favourite memories of Allan Robert Border, I think of him winning the World Cup in 87, bringing home the Ashes in 1989, lifting the World Series Cup on multiple occasions, his mental toughness, brilliance in the field and his more than handy work with the ball. Alongside all of his obvious on field attributes, the day I carried his bags to the bus in exchange for an autograph is certainly up there with one of the best.

What is your favourite memory of the great AR Border?

Paul Van Meekeren – Associate Cricket To World Stage – The Cricket Library

In this episode of The Cricket Library Podcast, Dutch international Paul van Meekeren takes us inside one of the most remarkable journeys in modern cricket. From a six-over thriller where he claimed four wickets against Ireland, to battling through shin splints in his very first international appearance, Paul opens up on the resilience it takes to survive and thrive as an Associate cricketer. We dive into the unforgettable high of becoming the first Dutch homegrown player to win the Caribbean Premier League, and relive the heart-stopping moment the Netherlands qualified for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. He also relives the thrill of the Netherlands’ famous victory over South Africa at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Adelaide—one of the most unforgettable moments in Dutch cricket history. Away from the spotlight, Paul reflects on the simple beginnings—Saturday mornings, ice cream, and a childhood dislike of the helmet. This is a story of grit, perspective, and passion—an unfiltered look at life on the global cricket stage. 🎧 Listen now and don’t forget to subscribe for more stories from the world of cricket.

1. Paul Van Meekeren – Associate Cricket To World Stage 50:16
2. Ken Piesse – A Life In Cricket Writing 47:06
3. Nikhil Kulkarni | Every Day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy | A Fan’s Journey 40:14
4. Gavin Dovey – From the Australian Team to Leading NT Cricket 34:22
5. Tammy Bartaia – Bollywood Dreams 15:02