ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
A Betoota Heights man who booted the side mirrors off Australian selector George Bailey’s BMW earlier this year for not picking Queensland wrist-spinner Mitchell Swepson in the first Test against Pakistan says he feels vindicated but largely sorry today for his targeted act of criminal damage.
Dale Moke said he threatened to travel to Brisbane a few weeks ago if Bailey, who is the new Trevor Hohns, didn’t pick the legspin bowler in Pakistan.
When the team was announced, the next afternoon, Bailey left the Brisbane Cricket Academy Facility to see his late-model BMW largely untouched, except the side mirrors were booted off and some distance from the car.
However, now that Swepson is due to bowl his first ball this evening local time, Mr Moke says he feels like he’s on the right side of history.
“There is a long history of booting side mirrors off cars owned by selectors,” he said.
“From Craig McDermott when they failed to pick him again after Glenn McGrath came in over in the Caribbean. Warrick Todd also booted the side mirrors off Trevor Hohn’s car once. Stuart MacGill has even done it to Ian Healy’s car on many occasions. Kasper used to love snapping antennas off Trevor’s car. Tell you what, Trevor’s insurance premiums must’ve been more than his mortgage,”
“Roy, he was pretty good. He could boot a side mirror onto the roof of the SCG Members. Now there’s me. It’s got to be one of the quickest ways to get the attention of some bloke. Have you ever tried to drive through Brisbane in the afternoon rain with no side mirrors? You’d have to be fucken Jari-Matti Latvala to do that, hey?”
“Anyway, I’ll be at the Betoota Heights Serviceman’s from 4pm waiting for Patrick to declare the innings, like the rest of the bloody country. But if that sook Bailey wants me to pay for the damage, tell him I’ll just put them back on for him. No harm, no foul.”
The Advocate reached out to Mr Bailey for comment but have yet to receive a reply.
More to come.
