Tom DecentFormer Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke has once again earned a cheer from a bumper crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground by skolling a beer while being egged on by Test great Shane Warne in the Channel Nine commentary box.
During the first session of play on Friday, television cameras spotted the 88-year-old in the stands and it didn't take long for members of the crowd to get excited.
Hawke continues SCG beer-skolling ...
The 88-year-old former PM gave the Ashes crowd at the SCG a bit of entertainment, knocking back a glass of beer on Day 2.
It isn't Hawke's first skol of a beer at the cricket. He has been spotted at least three separate times guzzling down a cold one at the SCG and it is becoming synonymous with the former Labor PM.
In 2012, Hawke only needed a "one for the country, Robert" line from a fan to get him going.
Bob Hawke alongside the former federal sports minister John Brown at the SCG on day two of the Ashes Test. Photo: Screengrab
With his face on the big screen, it was then up to an excitable Warne to commentate the moment.
"Show us your technique," Warne said. "He doesn't sip it, he gets it down in one. Look how quick he is."
In his younger days Hawke once downed a yard of ale – about 1.4 litres or 2.5 pints of beer – in 11 seconds, which at the time was a Guinness World Record.
However, Hawke did not seem to possess the same engine he once had as coverage cut to a Pat Cummins delivery as the time passed.
"Oh, oh, hang on, he hasn't finished yet," Warne said. "He is 88 years of age, give him a little bit of leeway."
Former England captain Michael Vaughan said: "You've got to say it's a pretty poor effort".
Shortly after though, Hawke finished the beer to the delight of the crowd and raised his glass in what might be one of the most Australian things you will ever see.
"Well down Bob, great work, super stuff Bob," Warne said.
Hawke's effort was lauded on social media afterwards, with many claiming it was quintessentially Australian. There were also others who felt it promoted binge drinking.
Replies
Now thats our PM. What a Champion
Probably the only thing he was ever good at.
Gez I hope that I can still enjoy a whiskey if I get to his age. Good on him.
I have been on both sides of the spectrum, what we have now, although in my opinion is unfair and too heavily weighted towards the mother is far better for the children than what I grew up with before the introduction of the child support act. Whilst I found it extremely hard to live financially under the heavy burden of child support at least I knew my daughter had food and electricity and other comforts we take for granted.
My dad was a dead beat dad that never gave my mother a cent forcing my mother to bring up 6 kids on a pension, we quite often went without food, electricity, clothing that wasn't old and torn, shoes, haircuts, school books and pencils, you name it, we didn't have it.
The system needs to be fairer but it is a necessity.
No need for ‘caps lock’ to write my name Vince, unless of course you feel I’m an extremely important person. I wouldn’t consider Hawke as the ‘catalyst’ of our nations current prosperity.
That’s my story as well.
It's a tough life isn't it Brett, but there is always someone doing it tougher.
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