For over three decades, David Boon's legendary consumption of 52 beers on a flight to London for the 1989 Ashes series has been cemented in sporting folklore. Now, in a stunning revelation, his teammate Geoff Lawson has come forward to set the record straight on what really happened during that infamous journey.
The Truth Behind the Tall Tale
According to Lawson, who was an eyewitness and remarkably served as the official recorder of Boon's alcoholic intake, the reality differs significantly from the popular legend. While the story has always focused on beer, Lawson reveals that Boon was actually consuming a variety of alcoholic beverages throughout the flight.
'I was writing it [Boon's beverage tally] on the back of a sick bag: the brand, the alcohol content and the volume,' Lawson told the Telegraph. 'It was a whole lot of different drinks – lots of beer, a few spirits, but I recorded every drink’s alcohol content.'
Lawson, who abstained from alcohol during his playing career, now carries a significant regret from that day. The physical evidence of this legendary sporting moment was accidentally left behind. 'One of my biggest regrets of my career is that I’ve written this all down on the back of a white sick bag, but I left it on the plane,' he confessed. 'It would have been one of the greatest pieces of memorabilia in Australian sporting history.'
A Culture of High-Flying Drinking Contests
Surprisingly, within the team, Boon's 52-drink accomplishment wasn't seen as an extraordinary event. Lawson explained that there was a history of Australian cricketers engaging in such drinking contests on long-haul flights.
The record Boon was attempting to break belonged to former wicketkeeper Rod Marsh, who reportedly drank 45 beers on the way to the 1983 World Cup in England. Marsh himself had surpassed the record of former batter Doug Walters, who consumed 44 beers on the 1977 Ashes flight.
Unlike Marsh's feat, which was allegedly announced by the plane's captain, Boon's record-breaking moment passed without ceremony. 'There was no song and dance about it,' Lawson recalled. 'It wasn’t seen as a big deal. It was just a fun thing of "oh, you broke Rod’s record, let’s win the Ashes now".' Lawson also confirmed that despite the staggering intake, Boon was able to walk off the plane unaided.
Regret and Lasting Ramifications
For years, Boon downplayed the story, suggesting it had been 'greatly embellished' by teammates. However, in a candid admission in December 2023, the Tasmanian cult hero expressed deep regret over his actions.
'I've got to be brutally honest here, I won't deny it happened... we all do stupid things in our lives,' Boon said. He acknowledged the negative impact it had, stating, 'You have fun, you do something and then you think s**t, what about the ramifications to everything else – to your family, to your children. It caused some crap over the years and it's something that I regret a lot ... I was stupid given I was in the public eye.'
Despite Boon's regrets, his feat became so iconic that it inspired others to attempt to break it. English rugby legend Mike Tindall reportedly tried to match the record on his flight home after winning the 2003 World Cup in Australia.
Boon, who scored 7422 runs in 107 Tests for Australia and was part of the 1987 World Cup-winning team, retired from Test cricket in 1996 and later served as a national selector. The true story of his flight, meticulously recorded and tragically lost, adds a new layer to one of cricket's most enduring legends.
