Mike Whitney played cricket for Australia between 1981 and 1993. He played 12 Tests and 38 One Day Internationals. He was Australia’s most economical bowler in the 1992 World Cup

Mike’s Test debut came in unusual circumstances. Australia was touring England in 1981 and he was in England playing Northern League Cricket in Lancashire for Fleetwood Cricket Club and some County Cricket for Gloucestershire. Injuries to Rodney Hogg and Geoff Lawson in the Australian team led to Whitney playing the final two tests of the tour. He was the first Australian Test Cricketer to be selected this way. Mike later played 10 more Tests between 1987 and 1993. His best performance was in 1992 when he claimed 11 wickets in a match against India in Perth including 7 for 27 in the second innings. He was named Man of the Match. Mike also took 7 for 89 in the first innings of the 5th Test against the West Indies in Adelaide in 1989. He toured the West Indies in 1991 and Sri Lanka in 1992.

A notoriously poor batsman, in 1987, while playing in the Boxing Day Test against New Zealand and batting at number 11, Mike survived 18 deliveries and held off Sir Richard Hadlee to help secure a draw for Australia. Australia won the series 1-0 and won back the Trans-Tasman Cup.

Not long after retirement, Mike began with Sydney Weekender and hasn’t looked back. Entering his 26th year hosting the popular travel show, Mike has travelled across the far breadths of NSW every week; yet he is still startled at where he continues to travel. “You would think after 25 years of travelling I would have seen everything, but I am still amazed each week at how many new places we are still discovering,” he says.

Mike’s stellar television career also includes hosting reality programs including Who Dares Wins and Last Chance Learners, while palming off sledges from contestants during his time refereeing on Gladiators. To this day Mike is still asked by Who Dares Wins fans if he can “dare them.”