The Ashes stars who played in Test match famous for Shane Warne’s Ball of the Century 

Thirty years ago, Shane Warne stepped up to deliver his first ball in Test cricket.

It’s a delivery that still defies logic three decades after Mike Gatting was stood aghast, wondering just how this blonde-haired outsider from Melbourne managed to conjure up a piece of skill since regarded as cricketing magic. 

Warne went on to add another 707 Test wickets to his total in a career that has redefined how fans and aspiring stars view spinners, and the Gatting delivery was widely shared online over a year ago following his untimely death, aged 52.

But what happened to the supporting cast of that 1993 Test match at Old Trafford? Daily Mail Australia provides the lowdown on the 30th anniversary of the ball of the century.

Daily Mail Australia looks at what happened to the stars of the ball of the century test

Australia 

Mark Taylor

After retiring in early 1999, Mark Taylor set his sights on the commentary booth and has been a regular pundit for Channel 9 for 24 years, and still plays a role on the network despite the broadcaster losing the TV rights in 2018. 

Michael Slater

Former batsman Michael Slater retired from cricket in 2004, embarking on a successful TV commentary career.

However, he has made headlines recently after pleading not guilty to assaulting and obstructing Queensland police during an incident in Noosa this year.

Police attended an alleged domestic violence-related matter where they were met by the ex-opener and TV commentator, who allegedly assaulted one officer. 

Slater said the incident occurred during a ‘mental health dip’.

‘It was an unfortunate situation that evening where it was a welfare check on my mental health,’ he said outside the court.

Michael Slater was arrested by police this year following a ‘mental health dip’

Asked if there was a need to talk more about former sports stars and their mental health, Slater said: ‘I still think there’s a lot of gaps that can be filled but certainly retired sportspeople, there’s a list of struggles in retirement.

‘Not that my retirement was bad. I was working in TV for 20 years and then you know it sort of all snowballed.’

David Boon 

David Boon has kept himself very busy since his retirement in 1999, becoming the face of Victoria Bitter (VB) between 2005 and 2007, while he’s also been part of the Cricket Australia selection board.

He gave up that role in May 2011 to pursue his dream of becoming an ICC match referee and made his test debut on 1 September 2011 in a test match between Zimbabwe and Pakistan.

Boon, 61, was appointed chair of Cricket Tasmania last year, where he has been a board member since 2014.

David Boon became the face of Victoria Bitter brewery after finishing his career

Mark Waugh

Like many of his former teammates, Mark Waugh turned to the commentary booth after finishing his playing career and enjoyed stints on Nine and Ten for ODI cricket and the Big Bash League respectively.

He was inducted into the Australian Hall of Fame in 2014 and was named as an opening batsman in Australia’s ‘greatest ever ODI team’. 

Waugh separated from his partner of 17 years, Sue Porter, in 2004 and married Kim Moore, the Sydney Cup-winning thoroughbred trainer, in 2005. 

Allan Border

Border has left a lasting legacy on cricket and the award for Australia’s best male cricketer of the year is named after him – the Allan Border Medal. The India-Australia test series has also been named the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

The 67-year-old was also the judge on Fox8 reality TV series Cricket Superstar, which ran for one season in 2012. The competition was won by Ian Holland, who went on to play six T20s for Australia. 

Border has previously served as a selector for the national team and works as a commentator on Fox Sports. 

Allan Border starred as a judge in the short-lived reality TV show Cricket Superstar on Fox8

Steve Waugh

Steve Waugh has dedicated himself to plenty of charity work since retiring from cricket and was recognised for his work in 2004 and named Australian of the Year.

He launched the Steve Waugh Foundation following his retirement, aimed at helping children who have a disease, illness or affliction that does not meet the criteria of other charities. 

Waugh has also been approached ‘a number of times’ by the Australian Labor Party to run for office, but insists he is not suited for politics. 

Ian Healy

Healy, the man behind the stumps for much of Warne’s career – including the ball of the century – has shared his wisdom on the game from the commentary box since 1999. 

The affable former Aussie star has proved a natural in front of the camera and microphone, presenting sport on Nine News Queensland on weekends from 2009 until 2016.

He also hosts a radio show on SENQ, while acting as mentor for his niece Alyssa Healy, who has carved out a sensational career in women’s cricket. The Southern Stars gun is married to Australia bowler Mitchell Starc.  

Ian Healy has enjoyed a great career on TV and radio after finishing his career

Brendon Julian

The tall left-arm fast bowler ended his career prematurely to pursue a role as presenter of travel programme Getaway for Channel 9, before moving on to sports broadcasting gigs with Nine and Fox Sports.

The new career has certainly helped boost the coffers, and he’s used his money wisely – investing in property in recent years.

He pocketed a cool $3.05million in October 2021 on a Bronte investment, which he paid $2.5m for two years earlier. He lives at another home in Bronte with his wife Suzanne, which they bought in 2007 for $5.3m. 

Brendon Julian (pictured with his wife Suzanne) presented a travel programme 

The former cricketer is also a property magnate and sold a Bronte apartment in 2021 

Merv Hughes

The larger-than-life Merv Huges stayed heavily involved in cricket after his career finished. He replaced Border as an Australian selector in 2005, although his performances came under intense scrutiny after a number of dubious decisions.

Away from cricket, Hughes starred in comedy movie Fat Pizza in 2003, and participated in both seasons of Channel 9’s Celebrity Overhaul, which featured stars looking to lose weight and improve fitness.

In 2015, Hughes starred in I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here and is an avid Spurs fan.  

Craig McDermott

McDermott has sought to impart his wisdom on the next generation of players after finishing his 71-Test career.

He’s been in and out of the Australian set up since 2011, returning to help Andrew McDonald earlier this year. The 58-year-old also worked with Ireland for a short spell. 

England

Graham Gooch

One of the best batsmen England has ever produced, Graham Gooch has established himself as a top batting mentor at county and international level.

Sir Alastair Cook has credited Gooch as a major influence on his incredible career and, under the 69-year-old’s watch, England became the world’s best Test side in the early 2010s. 

He is still deeply involved with the national team and is at the core of England’s Baz Ball revolution. 

Graham Gooch has become an influential figure in the England camp as a batting coach

Michael Atherton

Former England captain Michael Atherton has emerged as one of the most respected voices in cricket, displaying a talent for broadcast and written media since retiring. 

Known for his no nonsense stance on cricket matters and his dry sense of humour, Atherton won Sports Journalist of the Year in 2010 and has been cricket correspondent for the Times since 2008.

His son, Joshua de Caires, signed a professional contract with Middlesex in 2020 and is the great grandson of West Indies test cricketer Frank de Caires.  

Michael Atherton (right) is a well-respected broadcaster and journalist in England

Mike Gatting

Remembered as the poor soul on the receiving end of one of the greatest deliveries of all time, Mike Gatting hasn’t done too badly for himself in his post-playing career.

Gatting is deeply involved Middlesex and has served as president of the Lord’s Taverners and the Marylebone Cricket Club. 

He has dabbled in the media, taking on commentary roles as well as appearing as himself on British radio soap opera The Archers.  

Robin Smith

Smith was twice dismissed by Warne in that 1993 series and last played for England in 1996. After retiring from county cricket in 2003, he moved to Australia to help run helmet manufacturer Masuri. 

The 59-year-old has well-documented mental health and anxiety problems, and is studying for a degree in psychological science at Melbourne’s Swinburne University. 

Smith runs his own cricket coaching academy and also works for his brother’s clothing brand. 

Robin Smith struggled with mental health problems and now lives in Australia

In an eye-opening interview with The Guardian in 2019, Smith explained just how low he felt when he hit rock bottom.

‘I knew I was going to commit suicide but I didn’t know exactly what day it would be and how I was going to do it,’ he said. ‘I always felt I didn’t have the guts to buy a gun. I wouldn’t have known where to get a gun and shoot myself. 

‘But I knew I would be able to have some medication, two bottles of vodka and a cigarette before I jumped off the top of the building. I had that in me.’ 

Graeme Hick

While many high-profile names on this list have committed to punditry and coaching roles within their respective countries, Graeme Hick is a rare exception that has crossed the divide and helped England’s enemy.

Hick, widely regarded as an underachiever on the international stage, was hired by Cricket Australia as a high performance coach in 2014, before being made batting coach in 2016.

However, a cost-cutting measure caused by the Covid pandemic saw Hick made redundant in 2020, a decision that broke the heart of former coach Justin Langer.

‘He’s become a really good mate – a work ethic second to none,’ Langer said. ‘His experience and his integrity – you couldn’t meet a nicer person.’ 

Graeme Hick crossed the enemy divide to work under Justin Langer with Australia

Alec Stewart

Former wicketkeeper Alec Stewart has stayed closely connected to Surrey, where he is the county’s director of cricket, but had to step away temporarily earlier this year to care for his ill wife, Lynn, who was beginning a new course of cancer treatment.

She was diagnosed in 2013 and, while the situation is ongoing, her health has improved to a level that Stewart can return to the role. 

‘I want to thank everyone for their well-wishes and thoughts during a difficult time,’ Stewart said on the Surrey website. ‘I am thankful for the club’s understanding, and I look forward to the season ahead.’

Stewart has guided Surrey to two County Championship triumphs and helped provide a pathway for several players to represent England.  

Chris Lewis 

Former England all-rounder Chris Lewis’s life changed completely in 2009 when he was sentenced to 13 years in prison for drug smuggling. 

The 55-year-old attempted to smuggle 3.5 kilograms of liquid cocaine with a street value of £140,000 from St Lucia, and admitted he felt like a ‘scared little boy’ before his arrest at Gatwick Airport.

‘I can sum it up in one word: terror,’ Lewis, who served six-and-a-half years in prison, told Sky Sports. 

All-rounder Chris Lewis served a six-and-a-half year prison sentence for cocaine smuggling

‘Even before I landed, the idea that I was about to do what I was about to do, you know there is more than a good chance you might be stopped and searched.

‘Then being arrested and then waking up and appreciating all that might mean to your life and people’s lives around you.

‘The first night in jail is hard to put into words but I was just scared, scared like no other. I was scared like a little boy

‘I had faced Curtly Ambrose, Ian Bishop and Allan Donald and this was so far removed. In that environment I couldn’t summon anything, certainly at the beginning. No hope, no anything, everything turned to dust.’

Lewis admitted he ‘didn’t handle things well’ after his career ended, but has since rebuilt his life and now tours cricket clubs with the Professional Cricketers’ Association, speaking to players about life after they finish playing.

Phil DeFreitas

DeFreitas works as a coaching consultant with Leicestershire. The 57-year-old had previously been cricket master at Oakham School, and also made irregular TV appearances. 

Andy Caddick

England fast bowling legend Andy Caddick has taken a slightly different route to his teammates since finishing his career. 

The New Zealand-born right-arm bowler is a qualified pilot and works for a Devon-based company in aviation sales. 

Former fast bowler Andy Caddick is now a qualified pilot and works in Devon

Peter Such

While Peter Such didn’t possess the extraordinary skill of his spinning counterpart in Warne, the Englishman has enjoyed a commendable coaching career.

He joined the ECB in 2009 to work with bowlers through the England Performance Pathway, occupying the role of National Lead Spin Bowling Coach.

He left that role in November 2019, and became a match referee ahead of the 2020 County Championship season.  

Phil Tufnell 

Phil Tufnell has been an ever-present face on British TV and radio in his post-playing days. He retired from cricket in 2003 in order to appear on the second season of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, which he won.

He featured as a team captain on the BBC’s Question of Sport for 13 years, and is a regular contributor to Test Match Special. 

Phil Tufnell has carved out a hugely successful media career and was on a Question of Sport