Not too many people would compare Anthony Albanese with John Howard but perhaps that needs a rethink after the former’s exploits on the cricket field.
Channelling the former prime minister’s infamously shocking bowling, Mr Albanese fluffed his lines on Wednesday by dropping a simple catch during a charity cricket match at Kirribilli House.
The PM certainly looked professional in his whites but his catching form was anything but, the easy drop leaving his guests politely trying to stifle fits of laughter at his misfortune.
If that wasn’t embarrassing enough for the proud South Sydney fan, standing just metres from him was Rabbitohs and NSW hooker Damien Cook.
Cook was just one famous name looking on at the PM’s howler, with Matildas star Cortnee Vine, tennis grand slam champion Lleyton Hewitt, sprinter Matt Shirvington and lightning-quick pace bowler Brett Lee all surely unimpressed with the nation’s leadership.
It continues the curse of Australian PMs on the sporting field, Mr Albanese’s blunder perhaps not as bad as Mr Howard’s bowling in Pakistan in 2005 where he could barely get the ball on the pitch.
Fellow former PM Bob Hawke had some trouble with the bat back in 1984, top-edging a slog sweep into his face and smashing his glasses in a match against journalists.
But none worse than Scott Morrison drilling a seven-year-old child with a crash tackle on the election campaign last year.
Making matters even more awkward for Mr Morrison, he was playing soccer, his brutal hit much more suited to the rugby field.
At Kirribilli, NSW Premier Chris Minns fuelled speculation he could be suited to federal politics, playing some outstanding shots to clearly upstage the prime minister on his home deck.
Onlookers suggested Mr Albanese had pre-warned his visitors he wasn’t much of a cricketer and took his dropped catch in pretty good spirits.
He asked for a degree of leniency with bat-in-hand, reminding Cook of his Rabbitohs ‘life member’ status before facing up to him.
The ‘Fitzy and Wippa with Kate Ritchie’s First XI Backyard Cricket’ match raised money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities Sydney and Batyr Australia.
