Jobaaj Stories
Ian Chappell, former cricketer and journalist, has announced his retirement from writing after more than 50 years in the field. Chappell, known for his thoughtful columns, shared that he knew it was the right time to retire, just as he did when he retired from playing cricket.
In his long career, Chappell enjoyed writing, although he joked about his early days when he first started writing by hand before switching to typing. He also recalled a time early in his career when he made the mistake of drinking before writing a column. After realizing his mistake, he never repeated it again.
Chappell credited Pulitzer-winning journalist "Red" Smith for shaping his writing. He also thanked his wife, Barbara-Ann, who encouraged him to read other great journalists to improve his own writing.
His writing career began in 1973 when he got his first job from magazine owner Eric Beecher. Chappell’s work eventually led to a contract with The Age newspaper, where he wrote for many years. He also enjoyed writing about major cricket moments, like Sachin Tendulkar's matches against Shane Warne and VVS Laxman’s 281 in Kolkata.
Chappell also wrote several books, with his most recent, Chappelli: Life, Larrikins and Cricket, being a proud achievement.
As Chappell retires from writing, he thanked everyone who supported him throughout his career. Though he’s done writing, his legacy in cricket journalism will last.
