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It was 1976 and news of a young left arm fast bowling prospect in South Sydney had filtered through to the Randwick secretary.
A letter inviting the 17-year-old to try out for Randwick received no response. Nor did a follow up telephone call. A direct approach to his mother had more success however, and the youngster was called from the Maroubra surf to report to Coogee Oval.
Michael Roy Whitney, one of the great characters of cricket had arrived.
After a handful of games in Randwick’s first XI, Mike debuted for New South Wales at the Gabba in Queensland in 1980-91, sharing the new ball with Len Pascoe and Geoff Lawson.
To gain experience, Mike went to England in the 1981 off-season. After some impressive displays, he played three matches for Gloucestershire in the County Championship taking 13 wickets. While packing his bags for the next country match, he received a dramatic all to go to Manchester instead and join the Australian test team.
Within two days he had taken the field at Old Trafford, wearing the green and gold of Australia in the Fifth Test against England. A fairy-tale debut for a 21-year-old whose overall first class experience totalled just seven matches. Mike went on to take 2-50 and 2-74 in that match including the prize scalp of David Gower.
His test career was somewhat of a roller-coaster with the call to represent his country coming only 12 times over a period of 11 years. Despite his irregular appearances at the top level his two best bowling performances were achieved in Test matches - 7-89 against the West Indies in Adelaide in 1988-89 and 7-27 against India in Perth in 1991- 92.
In his 13 year first class cricket career, “Whit” played 118 games and took 412 wickets. He also took five or more wickets in an innings on 19 occasions. His 251 Sheffield Shield wickets for NSW places him sixth on the list of the all time greatest wicket takers for the State.
The tragedy of the Mike Whitney story was clearly his inexplicable omission from the 1989 Australia Shield team to England. It was the only time the leading Australian first class wickettaker had not been selected for a forthcoming England tour.
However, Whitney bounced back with a tenacity and determination that only he could muster and within two years he was back playing for Australia. This time as a member of the touring team to the West Indies where he performed with distinction.
The following season at home, he again topped the half-century mark with 52 wickets and won a place in the 1992 Australian winter tour of Sri Lanka where he played in two Tests.
Despite the strains of a long and demanding first class career, “Whit” always found time to turn out for his beloved Randwick. His loyalty and dedication to his club was acknowledged at the end of 1992-93 season when he was awarded Randwicks’ ultimate honour - life membership.
That season was also his Testimonial Year, only the third ever endorsed by the NSW Cricket Association. In announcing its support, The NSW Cricket Board stated that its decision was “to recognise the magnificent contribution to Australian and New South Wales cricket by Michael Whitney, both on and off the field.”
However, thirteen years of first class cricket eventually took its toll, and a serious knee injury early in the 1993-94 season forced Michael to announce his retirement from the game.
Ironically, his announcement coincided with the launch of his autobiography “Quick Whit.” His second book is due to be published later this year.
After retiring from cricket Mike Whitney has not been idle. As a very motivated sportsman, Mike realised that you cannot afford to waste time waiting for the phone to ring when you ‘hand up the boots’. He sought to make inroads into the business community immediately.
Apart from refereeing the Seven Network’s top rating show Gladiators, Mike’s other commitments with the Network included The Weekend Report on Seven Nightly News and Sydney Weekender, a Saturday afternoon leisure/lifestyle show. His is also working on a number of other pilots/guest appearances for the Network which are currently under review.
Mike is also the spokesperson for the Road Transport Forum’s “Today’s Truckies Giving 100%”, which is a five year, multi-million dollar campaign focusing on raising public awareness of the road transport industry in Australia.
Mike is also consultant to Promotional Management, a promotions, marketing and merchandising company as well as director of Vamps, a computer graphics company.
He also has existing commitment with ORIX, the largest car leasing and commercial finance company in the world, to appear at all their industry functions.
Mike Whitney also has his own Promotions Company and is one of the most sought after motivational and after-dinner speakers in the country.