Australia cricket legend 'drank record number of pints on plane' before an Ashes series

An Australian cricket legend reportedly set a new drinking record prior to an Ashes series in 1989 as his team travelled to England.

David Boon was a star batter for Australia in the 1980s and 1990s, averaging over 43 in Test cricket and scoring 21 centuries.

A gritty batter who scored his runs at a strike rate of 40, Boon began his Test career as a top order batter before the Australian selectors moved him up to open.

In 1989, Boon played at number three during what was a much longer Ashes series than the one currently being contested by Ben Stokes, Pat Cummins and co.

Rather than simply playing what was then a six-Test series, the Australian team went on a four-month tour of England to play first-class counties, including Lancashire, Middlesex and Sussex, minor counties and local sides. The tour encompassed trips to Scotland, Netherlands and Denmark as well.

Australia comfortably won the Ashes series 4-0. Boon averaged 55 over the course of six Tests, scoring 442 runs with a top score of 94 at Lord's.

But before the series began, the now ICC cricket referee is said to have broken a drinking record on a long-haul flight.

Australian legend 'breaks drinking record'

As the story goes, Australia wicket-keeper Rod Marsh - who passed away last year - had held the record, drinking 51 cans during a flight.

According to a report from Fox Sports Australia, Boon was targeting a 'world record attempt' as the Australia squad travelled to Heathrow.

Fast bowler Geoff Lawson kept score via sickbags, and batter Dean Jones once said he kept pace with Boon until 22 cans - when he fell asleep - and woke up to a plane announcement that the Aussie had reached the landmark 52 number.

Is the story completely true? Boon himself has refused to comment over the years - or whether the record was actually broken - but did say in 2006: "I know there are plenty of stories flying around about me that have been greatly embellished over the years.

"But that's how it is... we played our cricket in an era where blokes learned never to let the truth get in the way of a good story."