Greg Chappell’s sad situation revealed as friends rally around Australian cricket icon

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Australian cricket icon Greg Chappell has fallen upon sad times and friends and teammates are desperately trying to help.

The former Australian captain has organised a GoFundMe page which, at the time of writing, had raised over $74,000 in a bid to hit a $250,000 goal.

That total included a $25,000 donation from high-profile businessman and cricket fan Greg Boorer.

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A testimonial lunch was held for Chappell at the MCG last Monday, and the GoFundMe page was set up when it was realised it would be too difficult to organise donation facilities at the event.

Businessman and Chappell’s friend, Peter Maloney, was one of the brains behind the lunch.

“Greg is a very proud man. He’s doing it tougher than what he says,” Maloney told News Corp.

Greg Chappell was one of Australia’s most famous cricketers in the 1970s. Credit: Getty Images

Chappell is the face of the Chappell Foundation which raised $1 million this year for homeless youths.

But Maloney pointed out that 100 per cent of that money was distributed annually to charities and Chappell did not “take a cent out of it”.

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“If you put your name to a foundation you’re entitled to take some money out of it. But Greg hasn’t taken a cent out of it, even though he could have,” Maloney said.

Chappell was one of Australia’s most famous and highly regarded players throughout the 1970s and early 80s.

He played alongside Dennis Lillee, Rod Marsh, and Jeff Thomson during a glittering era for the sport.

He is also the brother of Ian and Trevor Chappell, somewhat of a royal family in Australia’s rich sporting history.

But many of the stars of their time did not make much money from the game.

And, unlike brother Ian, Greg kept a low profile after he retired, and never really embraced full-time commentary roles or the media spotlight.

He worked behind the scenes on cricketing boards, had a selector’s role, and a brief coaching stint with India.

Australia cricket heroes Rod Marsh, Greg Chappell, and Dennis Lillee pictured in 1984 at the SCG. Credit: Hulton Archive

“I’m not on the bones of my arse,” Greg Chappell said.

“I certainly don’t want it to sound like we’re in desperate straits, because we’re not … but we’re not living in luxury either.

“I think most people assume that because we played cricket that we are all living in the lap of luxury. While I’m certainly not crying poor, we’re not reaping in the benefits that today’s players are.”

Maloney puts on the lunches for the Chappell Foundation but approached Chappell about the testimonial.

“I knew he’d had a few health issues and he wasn’t going all that well financially,” Maloney said.

“I said, ‘well did you ever get a testimonial dinner?’

“When I asked the question, being a good salesman, I asked the question and shut up. And after a few minutes of deadly silence, his wife was there, and I think she might have kicked him under the table and said, ‘yes.’ I think that’s how it happened.”