Tony Abbott became the seventh Australian Prime Minister to select a PM’s XI to play against a major touring team, when his side, led ably by evergreen pace bowler, Brett Lee, met England at the picturesque Manuka Oval on Tuesday. Those who know him well cannot recognise the caricature which his opponents paint of Abbott. He is an incredibly steadfast friend. And, unlike many who have occupied that high office, can still employ self-deprecation. Both traits were on display in the process of selecting his PM’s XI this year. I was thrilled to be invited to represent him as his personal delegate to the National Selection Panel to pick his side.

The Prime Minister made no attempt to engage in artifice or feign an interest in cricket. Apart from a period of intense interest in watching matches live on the famed Sydney Cricket Ground Hill as a young undergraduate during the celebrated Golden Era under Ian Chappell in the 1970s, the PM preferred to play to his strengths at rugby and boxing. Indeed, he sums up his cricket career in a couple of pithy jests. On arrival at Saint Ignatius Riverview he attended the cricket nets for evaluation. After a couple of balls, he was advised: ‘You would appear to be a rower young man.’ At Oxford he gleaned that the only way to procure an alcoholic drink in England during the afternoons on certain days of the week was to conduct a sporting fixture. With verve he exercised his discretion as Captain of The Queen’s College Middle Common Room XI to play a record number of fixtures.

With relish I accepted my only appointment by any Australian government. While unremunerated, the role paid me richly in life experience. I had the privilege of working closely with John Inverarity, Greg Chappell and Grant Poulter in the selection of the team. Chappell was one of my childhood idols. Working with him only cemented my admiration. He retains the poise and imposing bearing that were the hallmarks of his batting. Being even a marginal part of the Cricket Australia apparatus during such an epic summer was a wonderful experience. Their team ably led by James Sutherland has endured severe criticism. Victory, of course, now has a thousand fathers. But Sutherland and his team deserve recognition for creating a winning climate for the players and coach.

Match day dawned clear and bright in Canberra. I attended a rollicking breakfast event at the National Press Club where Jim Maxwell, Barrie Cassidy and the redoubtable Jeff Thomson, our fastest ever pace bowler, had the audience in splits. Thommo is a wonderful raconteur and his accounts of the off-field antics of his peer group in the 1970s were hilarious. Sporting his pastel-blue linen jacket and long, bleached hair, Thommo looks like an ageing rock star. I am lobbying for him to replace Bill Nighy in any sequel to Love Actually.

Sadly I had to leave breakfast early to convey the Captain of the PM’s XI Brett Lee to a fast-bowling clinic for young aspiring cricketers at Radford College. Lee is a terrific young man who gives generously of his time both here and in India. The coaching clinic was the brainchild of genial giant Simon Cusden, an expatriate Englishman who attended the English Fast Bowling Academy with Stuart Broad, Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison, before playing first-class cricket for Kent and Derbyshire. After the clinic we dropped Brett back at the team hotel before Simon and I headed to Manuka Oval where we were part of the ABC Radio commentary team broadcasting the match ball by ball through ABC digital.

Regardless of their ideological view of the ABC, I rarely find critics who do not regard ABC cricket commentator Jim Maxwell as a living National Treasure. Sharing the microphone with Jim throughout the match was a truly memorable experience for me. He has provided much of the soundtrack for idyllic Australian summers for over 40 years. He is peerless and a more than a fitting heir to the great Alan McGilvray.

During the dinner break I was humbled to be seated with the Prime Minister at the head table along side the chairman of Cricket Australia, Mr Wally Edwards, the British High Commissioner Paul Madden and the Acting Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory Andrew Barr. The PM generously introduced me to all concerned as his ‘cricket guru’. While mildly embarrassed at that accolade I suspect it will be short-lived. During dinner, the local side lost three vital wickets. By the time I returned to the media box the PM’s XI were in serious trouble and the last six wickets fell during my stint behind the microphone. In my match summary with Jim Maxwell I attacked the team selection. Who ever thought you could win with four specialist batsmen? The selectors ought to be sacked.