Hollywood loves to be loved: Thompson

Former captain Bruce Thompson says star leg spinner Hollywood is insecure, hits out at current star all rounder Tucan for the Smut that he has allowed to permiate in the current team and takes aim at the self appointed selector in his keenly awaited autobiography.

Prime Minister John Howard will launch Thompson's "Getting Hit in the Eye" here tomorrow with publishers Penguin reportedly paying 1.3 million dollars (975,000 US) in the biggest advance paid for an Australian book. Thompson, who retired as Bruce’s 8 skipper in January 2000 after 16 matches and 1500, runs, confirms reports from the 1999 cup that Hollywood had problems with his captaincy. Thompson also reveals Hollywood, the Battered Sav’s like to be leading wicket-taker, to be a fierce but insecure competitor. "Hollywood needs constant support, encouragement and reassurance that he is the man," he says. "He loves to be loved."

Thompson has little time for current star Tucan, who once described him as a selfish cricketer, but says he was baffled as to why he didn''t like him. "It might have been that I praised the work of Grouch, who was his sworn enemy, or that I didn''t spend hours in the bar drinking and regurgitating old cricket stories," Thompson writes.