Ian Michael Chappell is a former Australian cricketer who played for South Australia and the Australian national team. He served as Australia's captain from 1971 to 1975 and helped establish the World Series Cricket organization.
After retiring from cricket in 1980, Chappell carved out a successful career as a sports journalist and cricket commentator, primarily for Channel Nine in Australia. In 2006, fellow cricketer Shane Warne described Chappell as "the most influential person in his life," and he remains a significant figure in Australian cricket. Chappell was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1986, the FICA Cricket Hall of Fame in 2000, and the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame in 2003. He was also honored by the International Cricket Council of Australia (ICC) and was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame on July 9, 2009.
Born on September 26, 1943, Ian Chappell was the eldest of three sons in a family with a rich cricket legacy. Both his brother and grandfather captained Australia, and his father, an Adelaide grade cricketer, introduced Chappell to cricket at a young age. His maternal grandfather, Vic Richardson, a renowned sportsman and former Australian cricket captain, heavily influenced his cricketing career. Chappell began playing competitive matches at seven years old, and after primary school, he attended Prince Alfred College, known for producing many Test cricketers.
Chappell initially found his stride in cricket as a right-hand middle-order batsman and spin bowler. Over the years, he developed into a respected captain, despite his straightforward manner leading to confrontations with cricket administrators and opposition players. His captaincy also saw the acceptance of sledging in Australian cricket.
Chappell retired in 1980 and transitioned into media, becoming a prominent cricket commentator and sports journalist with Channel Nine. He also writes a column for a major newspaper. His influence on Australian cricket remains considerable, with players like Shane Warne acknowledging his significant impact.
Chappell has also written several books on cricket, including a memoir of the 1972 Ashes tour and a collection of cricket-related humor and anecdotes. He released The Cutting Edge in 1992, a detailed account of contemporary cricket. His collaboration with Ashley Mallett, Chappelli Speak Out, was published in 2005, triggering a controversy due to Chappell's criticism of Steve Waugh. Despite the heated exchange, Chappell continues to contribute to cricket discourse, regularly writing for Cricinfo.com
Chappell's personal life has been marked by two marriages, the second of which is to his current wife, Barbara-Ann, with whom he resides in Sydney. He has a daughter, Amanda, from his first marriage. An advocate for improved treatment of asylum seekers in Australia, Chappell is a founding member of the Australian Republican Movement. In 2019, he publicly shared his skin cancer diagnosis and treatment.
| Birth Date: | 26 Sep, 1943 |
| Age: | 76 yrs |
| Occupations: | Cricketer Baseball player |
| Citizenship: | Australia |
| Birth Place: | Unley |
| Education: | Prince Alfred College |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | Australian cricketer |
