Brendon Julian
A fiery left-arm fast bowler whose explosive all-round performances briefly illuminated Australian cricket in the 1990s.
Born 1970 (age 56)·Australian cricketer·Birthday: August 10·Generation X
Biography
Brendon Julian burst onto the scene as the archetypal Australian cricketing athlete: tall, aggressive, and capable of game-changing moments with both ball and bat. His first-class career for Western Australia was marked by blistering pace and lower-order hitting that could dismantle an attack. This earned him a coveted baggy green cap in 1993, though his Test career, spanning seven matches, was a flicker of unfulfilled potential. In the one-day arena, he found a more consistent role, his left-arm angle providing a tactical edge. Julian's career pinnacle came as a member of Australia's unforgettable 1999 World Cup-winning squad, though his on-field contributions in the tournament were limited. After retirement, he smoothly transitioned into broadcasting, where his insider's insight and relaxed demeanor made him a familiar voice in commentary boxes, ensuring his lasting presence in the sport long after his final delivery.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Brendon was born in 1970, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brendon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1970
#1 Movie
Love Story
Best Picture
Patton
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Brendon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1970Born
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1975Started school
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1983Became a teenager
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Could drive
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1988Could vote
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1991Turned 21
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2000Turned 30
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 40
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 50
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 56 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Was a member of the Australian squad that won the 1999 Cricket World Cup in England.
- Took a five-wicket haul in only his second Test match, against New Zealand in 1993.
- Scored a rapid first-class century for Western Australia, reaching 100 in just 79 balls.
Did You Know?
He was a talented Australian rules football player in his youth and was offered a place with the Claremont Football Club.
Julian once took a hat-trick in a Sheffield Shield match for Western Australia against South Australia.
After cricket, he became a successful golf commentator in addition to his cricket broadcasting work.
“I loved the contest, the battle of bat against ball.”
