Hand him a cutlass, slap on an eye patch, and make a few minor adjustments to his dress ... and that should just about do it.

In the twinkling of a film director's eye, David Boon has been transformed from rugged Test cricketer to swashbuckling 17th Century buccaneer, ready to make mayhem on the high seas.

Enough menace there, one would suspect, to strike fear in many a stout Spanish sea-farer's heart. Certainly enough for Test captains the world over to want Boonie on their side.

Buccaneers may have lost out, but Australian cricket reaped rich rewards from the fact Boon was born in the 20th Century.

One hundred and one Tests to his name. Australia's second highest run-scorer in Test cricket. An average of 46 ... the statistics tell part of the story.

The sight of the moustached Boon crouched in head-gear by the wicket or batting with "in yer face'' defiance tells another.

And so too reports of boozy extra-curricular activities, including record beer-swilling sessions with his cricketing mates! The true stuff of legends, of course. Not to mention tabloid newshounds, gossipmongers, and, yes, the movies.

But is there another side to this most Australian of Aussies, to this 34-year-old with the forearms to challenge those of Popeye? Speak to him for a few moments -- as The Royal Gazette did during a reception at Elbow Beach this week for Boon and the all-conquering Aussies -- and the question gains intensity.

There the man stood, puffing on a cigarette, downing a drink and displaying some obligatory battle scars -- grazes on his forearms following Australia's 2-1 upending of the West Indies.

Something was missing, however; A film director would, no doubt, have fiddled with the script. Spiced it up, perhaps.

When you half anticipated an "on yer bike, cobber'', Boonie made himself instantly available. When you expected a scowl, he just smiled. And when you offered him the chance to bash opponents, he pulled back. He even had good things to say about England! (English fans, for instance, would be glad to hear the Ashes contest is still the battle which Aussie cricketers savour most.) Could Boon be a hard nut with a soft centre? Or was he just on his best behaviour for the Press? The answer is probably a bit of both; plus Boon from his moustache to his well-trodden toes is the consummate professional.

Ask the father-of-three about how he juggles the demands of cricket and family life, and you get a sense of this softer centre.

There is a trace of regret as he speaks of the impact on his family life -- an impact which has led some cricketing widows to the divorce courts.

In Boon's case, such are the pressures of modern cricket that his wife, Pip, is effectively a single mother nine months of the year.

"It is a bit of a strain, but it's something the wife and I accept,'' he says, adding: "It's something you accept, but you never get used to.'' Boon has a gentler side The golf-loving Boon throws further light on the strain on a cricketing father.

His third child, Elizabeth, was born three months ago ... but he has only seen her for four days.

"This kind of thing just goes with the job. It is a way of life rather than a deprivation,'' he says simply.

"I would be lying if I said I got used to it. After playing for 11 years, however, you do adjust.

"I would never tell an up-and-coming cricketer that he shouldn't fulfil his dream because of the strains on his family life.

"It should not be a factor. There is so much honour in playing for your country.'' Such domestic angst was not something which ever entered the young Boon's consciousness when he started his cricketing ways, inspired by the likes of Aussie speed demons Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, Rodney Marsh, Doug Walters and the Chappell brothers. Antiguan master blaster Viv Richards was also a hero.

"When you are a kid you have a dream, and Test cricket was my dream. You don't think about marriage and children.'' Encouraged by his coach at school, Boon decided at 15 to make the sport a career.

"I was 17 when I entered Shield cricket and eventually made it to the Test side in 1984 or 1985.

"There is no doubt the demands have increased since I have been in the game.

Your are on the road nine months of the year, which is difficult when you have three kids.'' It was just before he joined the Test side that Boon married his wife. The couple had met while at different schools.

"I am lucky in that Pip has always been supportive of me. I wouldn't say she was a cricket fan, but she watches the tours on the telly, and we keep constantly in touch by telephone and faxes.'' Does Pip ever follow her husband on tour? "Normally speaking there aren't any firm rules about wives going with husbands on tour.

"But it isn't really viable for wives to go on tour, visiting every country.

Cost is also a factor.

"The only tour wives do join us on is the Ashes tour. Generally my wife comes over half way through the tour and we lease a house.'' Is there any temptation to go a bit crazy when away from the wife? Boon answers with a typically straight bat, prodding the verbal ball out of danger. He is not one to be lured into a false shot, at least not on this occasion.

"Most of the guys are well disciplined and we know how to behave. We are never under any curfews or anything like that,'' he says.

But what about the reports of those marathon drinking sessions? "You don't want to believe everything you hear,'' he says without batting an eyelid.

"Obviously we celebrate when things go well.'' Beating the West Indies in their own backyard for the first time since 1973 was a prime example.

"That was without the doubt the highest point of my career. We all played really well as a team. We set out with a game plan, and it worked.'' One suspects, however, the high of winning will be matched by being reunited soon with Pip, Elizabeth, and his other two children, Georgina, seven, and three-year-old Jack.

Mention Jack, and Boon's eyes light up.

Would this proud father want his son to follow in his footsteps.

"I would never put any pressure on him to go into cricket. I want Georgina and him to do whatever they enjoy.'' But he adds, with a smile: "Of course, I would be over the moon if Jack did become a Test cricketer.'' Failing that, Jack could always try to fill his dad's shoes as marketing director of the State Bank of Tasmania.

Whatever career path Jack follows, the first Tasmanian to play Test cricket for Australia is a hard act to follow.

Police yesterday issued a traffic advisory for those planning to attend matches between the Australian Test Team and Bermuda.

For today's match between the Australian side and St. George's Cup Match XI, at Wellington Oval, parking will permitted in the Mullet Bay Road area, Police said, but not on Slip Road.

No parking will be allowed on St. David's Road on Saturday during the match at Lords between Australia and the President's XI.

And parking will not be permitted on Cricket Lane during Sunday's match between the visiting team and the Bermuda National Team.

David Boon