Mike Whitney - Cricket LegendMichael Roy Whitney is an Australian television personality and former cricketer, who played in 12 Tests and 38 ODIs from 1981 to 1993, with best bowling figures of 7/27.
Fast bowler Michael Whitney was a favourite among Australian and NSW cricket fans for both his sense of humour and whole-hearted approach to the game. He made his Test debut in 1981 at Old Trafford against England, when he was called on by the Australian touring party due to injuries while playing for Gloucestershire. However, he was then overlooked for six years afterwards and played almost all of his matches for Australia in the late 1980s and early '90s. He was Australia's most economical bowler in the 1992 World Cup and in the same season took 17 wickets in three Tests against India. Whitney became a much-celebrated number 11 batsman in the 1987 Boxing Day Test, surviving 18 deliveries and holding off Richard Hadlee to help secure a draw for Australia against New Zealand. Since retiring from cricket, he has worked in the media, most prominently as the host of Who Dares Wins(made in Australia, the show has been seen in America on cable's Game Show Network). He has also been a referee on the Australian version of TV game show Gladiators and continues to host a variety of travel programs. Mike is currently hosting Sydney Weekender (22nd year!), a show airing only in New South Wales. He has hosted Last Chance Learners and officially endorses Hamish and Andy's greyhound, Fred Basset. Mike is also part of the Indian Cricket League commentary team. On 8 of March 2009 Mike Whitney was inducted as a life member by the South Sydney Rabbitohs for his contribution in being a Director on the Football Club Board in the critical period during the Club’s battle for reinstatement to the competition between 1999 and 2001. He also played a decisive role in attracting fellow Life Member Kerry Stokes to the Club as a major sponsor upon its readmission to the competition in 2002, a coup that ensured the Club’s ability to make its triumphant return to the NRL competition. |
Who Dares Wins - Hosted by Mike WhitneyWho Dares Wins was an Australian adventure game show that aired on the Seven Network between 1996 and 1998, with re-runs airing in 2005 and 2007. Hosted by former test cricketer Mike Whitney and co-hosted by Tania Zaetta, the show has been screened in over 50 countries around the world.
Despite Australian production of the show ending in 1998, Who Dares Wins continues to be popular around the globe on cable television networks such as AXN. In particular, the show's massive success in India has even lead to a series of India-based specials hosted by Zaetta in 2002, and later an Indian spin-off called Extreme Dhamaka in 2003. The show was also licensed to the United Kingdom and named Don't Try This At Home and then renamed Challenge of a Lifetime. In the United States the Game Show Network aired Who Dares Wins on several occasions, with the tagline that Who Dares Wins was "Australian for Game Show" as a parody of Foster's Lager's American advertising campaign of the time. At the 39th Annual TV Week Logie Awards held in 1997, Who Dares Wins was nominated for "Most Popular Light Entertainment Program". |