Brendon Julian gaffe sees australia given 'Sir Wank Forrell' trophy
the peak of brendon julian's fleeting career as a test cricketer for australia in the mid 1990s came with his performance on a tour of the west indies.
His performance on sunday in conducting the presentation ceremony to mark australia's 2-0 series victory there was arguably as memorable as his five-wicket match haul in barbados 20 years ago - but not for the right reasons.
The 44-year-old played seven tests for australia between 1993 and 1995. The former fast-bowler's polished skills in front of the camera have since seen him elevated to fox sports' chief cricket presenter.
Advertisement
he was also recruited by overseas network ten sports for their coverage of the two-test series between the west indies and australia in the caribbean.
After the second and final test ended shortly after lunch on day four in jamaica - the visitors romped home by 277 runs - julian took over the formalities. He cruised through the first six minutes of the presentation, and had moved on to his final duty: Announcing the handover of the series trophy named after west indies champion sir frank worrell.
When he did, however, he ended up up announcing over the sabina park public address system, and to the worldwide tv audience, the australia captain michael clarke and his players were to be given the victors' cheque and "the sir wank forrell trophy".
Julian, as if realising his blunder, conspicuously paused and raised his eyebrows after blurting out "sir wank", but then continued with the misspoken surname. He then finished the ceremony without interruption as the australians huddled together with said trophy in their grasp.
The unfortunate name blunder, and the resulting low-brow connotations, revived memories of when veteran sports presenter sandy roberts welcomed then miss australia leanne dick to the stage at a horseracing meeting in south australia in 1981.
Roberts inadvertently announced her name as "leanne c**k"
