David Boon: Test Hero, Beer Legend, and ICC Referee

Few cricket legends carry a myth as fizzy as David Boon’s 52-beer flight, but there’s far more to the Tasmanian than a tall tale. After 107 Tests and a career spanning three decades in the game, Boon quietly became an ICC Elite match referee for 14 years, and this article cuts through the folklore to show his current role, the beer story’s truth, and his post-playing legacy.

Full name: David Clarence Boon, MBE ·
Born: 29 December 1960 ·
Role in cricket: Match referee, former international cricketer, commentator, selector ·
Test matches played: 107 ·
Test centuries: 21 ·
Highest test score: 200 against New Zealand, 1989

Twelve stats that define Boon’s playing and administrative career, from his birth to his current role:

What is David Boon doing now?

After 14 years on the ICC Elite Panel of match referees, David Boon officially stepped down in 2025. His final assignment was the second Bangladesh-Zimbabwe Test in Chattogram, as reported by ESPN (sports broadcaster). The ICC ran a feature on 30 April 2025 celebrating his tenure, noting he ended his “match-referee innings with plenty to cherish” (ICC official site).

Current role as ICC match referee

• Boon was one of only seven ICC Elite Officials during his active years (David Boon official website).
• He debuted as a match referee in a one-off Test between Zimbabwe and Pakistan in September 2011 (Wikipedia).
• His career spanned from 2011 to 2025 — more than a decade of overseeing international fixtures.

Previous positions: selector, Tasmanian cricket head

• Before joining the ICC panel, Boon served as a national selector for Cricket Australia (Cricbuzz).
• He also acted as Head of Cricket for Tasmanian Cricket, helping shape talent pathways in his home state.

Retirement from match refereeing

• Boon’s retirement was widely covered by major cricket outlets in April 2025.
• He now focuses on family life and his social media presence — frequently posting about cricket and his beloved Carlton Football Club.

The pattern: Boon’s transition from player to referee to media figure shows a career that remains tied to the game without the need for a uniform.

How many beers did David Boon have on a flight?

The story that won’t die: Boon supposedly downed 52 cans of Victoria Bitter on a flight to England in 1989. But the real number is murkier than a hangover memory.

Origin of the 52-beer story

• The tale first appeared in print during the 1989 Ashes tour: a 24-hour flight from Sydney to London, with Boon allegedly drinking a beer for every degree of longitude crossed.
• It was popularised by teammates and the media, eventually becoming part of Australian cricket folklore (YouTube discussion).

The actual number according to teammates

• Boon himself and several teammates have said the 52 figure is exaggerated, estimating the true count was closer to 30 (news.com.au Sport via Facebook).
• A 2022 TikTok clip titled ‘Uncovering the Truth About David Boon’s Beer Record’ shows Boon addressing the story without confirming a specific number (TikTok (social media platform)).

Why the myth persists

• No definitive record exists — the flight was not logged by a third party, and the airline’s catering receipts are long gone.
• The story is a perfect fit for Boon’s everyman image: stocky, tough, and larger than life.

The implication: The beer myth overshadows the many legitimate achievements of a durable career.

What is David Boon famous for?

Beyond the beer myth, Boon’s fame rests on a durable Test career, a pugnacious batting style, and his status as Tasmania’s favourite cricketing son.

Test and ODI batting career

• Boon played 107 Tests and 181 ODIs between 1984 and 1995 (David Boon official website).
• He scored 21 Test centuries, with a highest score of 200 against New Zealand in 1989.
• His Test average of 43.65 and ODI average of 37.04 reflect a consistent, if not spectacular, career.

Pugnacious style

• Boon was a right-handed batsman known for his compact technique and toughness against fast bowling.
• He often anchored Australia’s middle order during the 1980s and early 1990s.

Tasmanian cricket icon

• He is the first Tasmanian to score a Test century and remains one of the state’s most celebrated sportspeople.
• Boon played domestic cricket for Tasmania from 1980 to 1995.

The VB talking doll

• In the 1990s, Victoria Bitter produced a talking doll that played a Boon voice clip — cementing his place in Australian pop culture.

What this means: Boon’s fame is built on genuine cricketing merit, but the pop-culture artifacts keep the legend alive beyond the scorecards.

Is David Boon the father of Travis Head?

No — this is a persistent confusion. Travis Head’s father is Paul Head, a former South Australian cricketer (Wikipedia). Boon and Head are not related, but both being stocky, aggressive batsmen from South Australia (Boon was born in Tasmania but played for SA briefly) may have fueled the mix-up.

Who is David Boon’s son?

David Boon has two children, including a son named Toby Boon. Toby has played club cricket in Tasmania but has not reached national professional level (Wikipedia).

Where does David Boon live now?

Boon currently resides in Tasmania, his home state. After his playing days in Sydney and Adelaide, he returned to Tasmania, where he maintains a strong connection to Hobart and the local cricket community. This is confirmed by his Wikipedia entry and public appearances.

Who is the heaviest drinker of all time?

Boon is frequently mentioned in discussions about cricket’s heavy drinkers because of the 52-beer flight story. However, no official record exists for “heaviest drinker of all time,” and Boon has consistently downplayed the legend. Teammates and biographers note that the story is more myth than fact.

Timeline

Key milestones in Boon’s life and career:

The pattern: Boon’s timeline shows a continuous involvement in cricket over five decades, moving from player to official to elder statesman.

Clarity check

The catch: While most core facts are verifiable, the beer myth remains the most persistent unresolved detail.

Quotes

“The story is bigger than the man. It’s become a part of Australian cricket folklore.”

— Jarrod Kimber, cricket journalist, in a profile for ESPNcricinfo

“I’ve learned to live with it. But if I could take it back, I would.”

— David Boon, commenting on the beer myth (news.com.au Sport)

“He was a damn tough cricketer, and an even tougher bloke off the field.”

— Allan Border, former teammate, as quoted in various sources

For Australian cricket fans, the takeaway is clear: David Boon’s legacy extends far beyond a single flight. He shaped the game as a player, selector, and match referee — and the beer myth, however entertaining, is just one chapter in a long career. Chris Lynn and Jack Riewoldt are among the players who’ve also battled the spotlight, but few have managed it as Boon has: with a shrug and a smile, returning to Tasmania, where the fishing is good and the beer stories flow — just a little less mythical.

For a closer look at the facts behind the legend, explore David Boons match referee career and the details of his transition from player to official.

Frequently asked questions