At primary school, thinking about the next break and what game I am going to play, I suspect.

Ready for action at my nan’s home at Elizabeth North.

One of the legendary family backyard games at my nan’s place that produced tears and triumph on an annual basis.

With my cousins, (left to right) me, Michael and Russell, playing for Elizabeth Downs. Soccer was one of my early loves.

Indoor cricket was perfect for me, and you got to wear sleeveless shirts. I’m in the centre at the front.

Dad, Mum, Gavin (arriving at a bad shirt party that only he was aware of) and me, all dressed up with somewhere to go.

Me with my first set of clubs. Golf’s wonderful fun but I am very glad I chose the sport I did!

At Trinity College, sporting one of my better haircuts.

Mum (in blue) with her friends Sue Boettcher and Iris Prust.

Dad and I, just before my oneday debut for South Australia, in the famous pergola.

A nest of Redbacks – look hard and you can spot Boof Lehmann, Dizzy Gillespie and a very blond Mark Cosgrove.

Getting the prized Redbacks signature bats done, with (left to right) Andy Delmont, Dr Dan Harris and I.

The South Australia Cricket squad at the Adelaide Oval in 2005-06.

My 21st birthday, where Boof and Blewey (Greg Blewett) had just told me the news that I would be making my debut for the Redbacks. Do I look happy enough!

In full cry for SA in a Mercantile Mutual Cup game against the Vics in 2000, at the old-school surrounds of Punt Road rather than the MCG.

Close, but not close enough as Brad Haddin takes the bails off to run me out in a onedayer in 2004 at Manuka Oval in Canberra. Shame the third umpire couldn’t save me!

Bouncing Grant Lambert, the NSW all-rounder who was inevitably a thorn in our sides, at the Adelaide Oval in 2007–08, my last season with the Redbacks before moving to Queensland.

On the charge with the Queensland Bulls in a Twenty20 game at the Gabba, a young Aaron Finch in the background and former Test paceman cum umpire Paul Reiffel giving me some good news.

Deccan Chargers captain, Adam Gilchrist, receives the trophy from the South African president, Jacob Zuma, after we won the 2009 IPL Twenty20 final in South Africa.

An amazing moment with the Deccan Chargers, meeting the Dalai Lama.

A fair old outing at the WACA during the fourth ODI against Pakistan in January 2010, the old scoreboard telling a happy tale for me.

One of the celebrations during that haul at the WACA; Punter, Shaun Marsh and Pup were happy to share the love that night.

A special moment after I was presented with my baggy green cap by Ricky Ponting on my Test debut in New Zealand in March 2010.

Andrew Strauss checks to see just how much damage has been done from my short ball collecting Kevin Pietersen in an ODI at Old Trafford in June 2010.

Great catch low down by Steve Smith to remove Paul Collingwood off the last ball of the day against England during the Third Test at the WACA during the 2010 Ashes series.

Phil Hughes and I doing our best to keep Ricky’s spirits up as he was fighting to overcome a broken finger in order to play in the Boxing Day Test against the Poms in the Fourth Test of the 2010 Ashes series.

Ricky made it onto the field … but that was the end of me as my ankle collapsed during the Fourth Test.

An X-ray of my ankle after it was pinned back together.

Into my stride and searching for English wickets at the WACA during the 2013 Ashes series, a Test we were always going to back ourselves to win.

If anyone deserved a beer to cool down after winning that Test match it was Mitch!

Feeling absolutely zero pain after taking the last wicket in our hard fought third Test victory over South Africa at Sahara Park Newlands in 2014.

Celebrating the end of an amazing series against South Africa in 2014, and a gratifying twelve months for Australian cricket.

A perfect day in every way—our wedding day.

Commentating on the cricket in October 2014, while recovering from the knee op.