Australia cricket legend Allan Border reveals he has Parkinson’s Disease and has kept it secret for seven years

AUSTRALIAN cricket legend Allan Border has revealed he has Parkinson’s Disease after keeping his diagnosis a secret for seven years.

Border was diagnosed with the condition back in 2016 but has only now decided to share his story.

ReutersAllan Border has revealed he has Parkinson’s Disease[/caption]

Allan Border kept his diagnosis a secret for seven yearsGetty

Instead, the 68-year-old only told his wife, their four children and his close family about his diagnosis.

Former team-mate Dean Jones, who died of a heart attack in 2020, was the only other person her told.

Speaking to The Australian, Border explained: “Jonesy couldn’t help himself.

“And he told Boonie (Test opener David Boon). Then I’m having a feed at Boonie’s place and he says, ‘C’mon AB, what the f*** is going on?’

“I’m a pretty private person and I didn’t want people to feel sorry for me sort of thing. Whether people care you don’t know. But I know there’ll come a day when people will notice.”

Despite battling the disease, Border remains positive, adding: “I get the feeling I’m a hell of a lot better off than most.

“At the moment I’m not scared, not about the immediate future anyway. I’m 68. If I make 80 that’ll be a miracle.

“I’ve got a doctor friend and I said if I make 80 that’ll be a miracle, and he said: ‘That will be a miracle.’

Allan Border is seen as one of Australia’s greatest ever cricketersGetty

Times Newspapers LtdAllan Border played in 156 Test matches[/caption]

“No way am I going to get another 100, that’s for sure. I’ll just slip slowly into the west.”

Border is widely regarded as one of Australia’s greatest ever cricketers.

He guided his country to their maiden Cricket World Cup in 1987 as well as playing in a then record 156 Test matches.

Since retiring from cricket in 1994, he has gone on to work as a commentator and a national team selector.