An accomplished mimic, exceptional anecdotist and born entertainer, former Australian cricketer and current media star, Mike Whitney is one of Australia's most sought after motivational and after-dinner speakers and one of Sydney's favourite hosts. He has a finely honed talent for communicating with audience members…cricket lovers or not.
Already popular with fans of NSW cricket, after making his test debut in 1981 Michael Whitney quickly became a favourite among Australian aficionados of the game for his sense of humour and ‘take no prisoner’ approach to the game. He played almost all of his matches for Australia in the late 1980s and early '90s. He claimed his Test-best (4 for 68 and 7 for 27) in the fifth Test against India in 91/92. Whitney became a much-celebrated No. 11 batsman in the 1987 Boxing Day Test, surviving the bowling attack to help secure a draw against New Zealand.
Since retiring from cricket, he has worked in the media, as the host of the Australian made Who Dares Wins (seen in America on the Game Show Network).
He has also been a referee on the TV game show Gladiators and continues to host a variety of travel programs.
Part of the Indian Cricket League commentary team, Mike Whitney was inducted as a life member by the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2009 and is a Life Member of Cricket New South Wales.
A patron of the Sydney Kids Committee and a member of the fundraising committee for the Sydney Children's Hospital, he is also a bestselling author.
Mike has hosted the Sydney Weekender TV show since 1994 which has become the most watched travel show in Sydney, reaching a milestone last year of 750 episodes.