14 Facts About Neil Hawke

Neil James Napier Hawke was an Australian Test cricketer and leading Australian rules footballer.

Neil Hawke made an impact on the cricket field as a medium-fast swing bowler with an unusual "crab-like'" action, a capable lower-order batsman and a sound fieldsman.

Neil Hawke finished his career after 27 Tests, 365 runs at 16.59,91 wickets at 29.41 and a statement by his former Test captain, Richie Benaud, declaring Hawke as one of the finest medium-pace bowlers he had seen.

Neil Hawke began playing in the Lancashire League, first for Nelson and then East Lancashire and moved to Launceston, Tasmania to become coach of the Northern Tasmanian Cricket Association.

Neil Hawke continued to play in the Lancashire Leagues until 1974 before returning to Adelaide where he worked as a sports journalist and cricket commentator.

Neil Hawke made his senior Australian rules football debut for South Australian National Football League club Port Adelaide in August 1957.

Neil Hawke stamped himself as a future champion when in his third game he kicked 15 goals for Port against South Adelaide before being surprisingly dropped two weeks later.

Neil Hawke quit Port at the end of 1957 to try his hand in Western Australia and made his West Australian National Football League debut in 1958 for East Perth Football Club, playing 42 matches and kicking 157 goals in two seasons with the Royals, including East Perth's 1958 and 1959 premierships.

Neil Hawke topped the WANFL's goalkicking list in 1959 with 114 goals, represented Western Australia against South Australia and gained local fame for apparently being the first footballer to perfect the drop punt over a long distance.

Previously, the drop punt was only used over short distances on wet days but Neil Hawke's innovation was said to have revolutionised the game in Western Australia.

Neil Hawke was part of the 1963 South Australian football team that defeated Victoria at the Melbourne Cricket Ground; the first time South Australia had won at the MCG since 1926, and in so doing became the first person to have represented both South Australia and Western Australia in Australian Rules football and cricket.

In July 1980, Neil Hawke ate some peanuts which precipitated a total blocking of his bowel, requiring surgery.

Neil Hawke's survival was considered a medical marvel by doctors and he was the subject of study by researchers on how long a patient could be drip fed.

Neil Hawke died in Adelaide on Christmas Day, 2000, aged 61, survived by his third wife Beverley and a daughter, Janet, from his first marriage.