XtraTime Web Desk: Former Australian Skipper Ian Chappell battling against skin cancer as he revealed it on Thurday. The 75 years old expects to be fit ahead of the Ashes series in the next month.
Former Aussie star played 75 Tests for Australia, has completed five weeks of intense radiation therapy after he had skin cancers removed from his shoulder, neck and underarm.
“When you hit 70 you
feel (vulnerable) anyhow, but I guess I’ve got so used to bloody skin cancers
over the years, and the fact that none of them have been melanomas, probably
provides a bit of comfort. It may be naivety on my part,” Chappell said.
At this stage, the pathology report has come all
clear and he is ready to commentate in the Ashes beginning with the first Test
at Birmingham on August 1.
Chappell was even able to attend a family
reunion with brothers Greg and Trevor last week. In fact, he continued working
during his radiotherapy.
The maker of 5,345 Tests runs said his constant
battles with skin cancer has prepared him for the worst.
“I’ve had multiple skin cancers cut off,
burnt off and every other way you can get rid of them. You get to 70 and you
start to think, ‘Christ, it’s getting near the end now.’ But I saw my mother,
Jeanne near the end and she’d come to grips with death, and that’s probably
when I thought, ‘shit, this is something you need to deal with’.”
“Not that you’re trying to rush it, but
when it comes you’re comfortable. I guess I’ve been in that mode for a while
now, and when it happens you just say, ‘well, I’ve had a pretty good time and
that’s it.”
“When Richie (Benaud) and Tony (Greig) went
… again, it was just a reminder that it happens to everybody,” said
Chappell who is well respected for his views on the game.
Not many knew about his illness initially but he
told his friends and family after being confident about his treatment.
“I didn’t tell too many people early on.
Mainly because I just wasn’t sure what the radio therapy would involve and how
weary I’d be. But as it turned out, it wasn’t so bad. A bit of tiredness at
night and a bit of skin irritation, but other than that I’m feeling pretty
good.
“I told family and gradually a couple of my
teammates and I’ve been getting calls from them pretty regularly which is nice.
With the Ashes coming up now, I’ll speak to Nine (Broadcaster) and just say,
‘look, I’m ready to go if you need me’.”