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ADDRESS BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING MP,
RECEPTION FOR THE PRIME MINISTER'S ELEVEN WELCOME TO
THE TEAMS, PARLIAMIENT HOUSE, 11 NOVEMBER 1992
Ladies and gentlemen.
Let me begin by saying that on behalf of the Government I
am delighted to welcome the West Indies and Australian
cricket teams to thiS reception in their hon'our.
in particular I am sure everyone here will want to join
me in welcoming the West Indies cricket team to
Australia. No doubt it is easier for me to say this than it is for
someone who has to play against them.
But Australian cricketers, being of the traditional mould
that enjoys a challenge, no doubt are looking forward to
the summer.
Because, lit ule as I know about the game, I know it has
to be said that playing the West Indies represents the
biggest challenge in modern cricket.
For sixty years they have produced legendary players.
in the last fifteen they have produced legendary teams
they have been consistently the world champions.
You might ask how someone who is not a renowned cricket
lover gets to know such things.
But how does a non-cricket person like myself get to know
about the West Indies?
I know because the West Indies are legendary you can't
help but know about them.
And you cdin't help but admire them. You can't be at the
top for so long without having something special about
you.
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You can't come from behind like they did in Barbados to
beat South Africa without there being something special
about them.
All comparisons with the trend in national opinion polls
are, of course, totally invidious and out of order.
The thing about great sportsmen and women is that they
have something which goes beyond excellence and
commitment and belief in themselves they have spirit.
They lift the game to the realms of art. Ultimately
that's why everyone knows about the West Indies.
Great sportsmen and women can also lift a game to the
level of the contests Involved in life itself.
Contests between Australian and West Indies sides have
long been fierce and uncompromising.
I don't have any problem with that I have much the same
attitude to the Parliament.
It's where the game is won and lost, and if you're
serious about your profession and the country you're
playing for, you play seriously.
But you'll play better if you love the game.
If you take pleasure in it.
If you've got a sense of humour about it.
And I hope that we see these things this summer dead
serious but uplifting and inspiriting.
Now I haven't said anything about my side yet.
A lot of you probably don't think I had much to do with
the selection of it.
Not true. I insisted that _ Allan Border was in it.
I can tell you now that I said to the member of my staff
responsible for cricket is Allan Border in it, mate?
And he said -of course he's in it.
And I said -just as bloody well.
There's no need to thank me now, Allan. I wans't going to
let them leave you out
I said, if Allan's in it we're in with a show aren't
we? I said before that to stay at the top for a long time is
the mark of someone special.
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There is really nothing more to be said about Allan
Border. I mean, like the West Indies, even I not only know who
Allan Border is, but I feel like I know something about
him. He is the definitive Australian cricketer of his ere,
which is to say that he's more than the best over the
period he's the cricketer who has done more than any
other to describe us to the world and to ourselves.
You can say about Allan that when he's in it we're 811
in It.
We're all out there with him, and the best thing about it
is, we're only speaking metaphorically.
Now I won't hold you up any longer.
I welcome both sides and wish them luck tomorrow and in
the coming series.
To the West Indies team I say I hope you enjoy your stay
in Australia. You know you are always very welcome.
To the Australian team I say good luck, you know you have
the nation behind you.
To both sides I hope it's a great contest played in
great spirit, and that tomorrow's match sets the pattern
for the whole series.
I'll be out there tomorrow to tos$ the coin and check the
weather and put the key in the pitch and all those other
things you have to do before a cricket match.
Good luck to all of you.
Thank you.