BRYDON Coverdale is leading a double life.

As a respected cricket correspondent for website Cricinfo he has spent the week at the MCG covering Australia’s Test against Pakistan.

In cricket press boxes he is so quiet and unassuming he might be sitting behind you and you wouldn’t know he is there.

But in Channel 7’s quiz show The Chase – which he joined after a series of quiz show triumphs – he morphs into a completely different character.

Known as ‘The Shark’, he is promoted as the “cocky and confident’’ guy who is “better than you and he knows it.’’

He talks about his two-toned life to fellow journalist and cricket-lover Robert Craddock.

How did you start?

When I was a kid I was the youngest of four so I was always trying to prove myself as being as smart as my older siblings and trying to beat them at things like Trivial Pursuit. It goes from there.

You once won $300,000 on Million Dollar Minute. How did you know when to pull out?

It was a bit like those gambling ads, “once it is no longer fun walk away.’’ Once I played on to $300,00 I thought there was too much money on the line and I am not enjoying it so I knew I had to walk away.

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When you pocketed the $300,000 what was your guilty pleasure big spend?

Funnily enough I didn’t have one. It was the most boring thing in the world. We just paid off the house. What it has done is that I am 35-years-old and it gave us a kick start in life I guess.

Your persona as the cocky Shark is in total contrast to the unassuming fellow you are in the cricket round. Are you simply playing the role?

There is a little bit of that I guess. I am confident in the sense I know my ability in quizzing. That is what it comes from. To be given the licence to play up to the cocky, confident thing is quite fun because in day-to-day life I am not necessarily like that.

Does your mind ever go blank in the heat of battle?

Yes. One question in the last 10 seconds was “what anagram of the word ‘could’ means a collection of water vapour.” I spent eight seconds on it before it occurred to me it was cloud. It was the most basic thing but the team won the money because in that moment I just couldn’t think of it.

You said you train for quizzes. How?

There is a bunch of ways. All of us Chasers have had a good basic level of knowledge but we have individual areas where we are weak. I have a spread sheet of lists I am constantly revising such as recent movies and music and sporting winners. I write myself a lot of practice questions and try to put myself in the mind of the question masters. It really is surprising how often one of those questions will come up.

Who do you consider the greatest quiz performer in history?

When I was a kid in the 1980s Cary Young was the man on Australian TV. He dominated Sale of the Century. He had this amazing ability to step up in pressure moments. He used to train like an athlete. If he had a big tournament coming up he would go away and train like a boxer and get physically prepared.

Having seen you tackle a few press box mini-pies during the tea break Brydon, I sense you have chosen a slightly different route?

Exactly. Let’s just say I admired his dedication.

What about proud moments. Are there any times when you took particular delight in getting one right?

There was 10 seconds left and the question was “the song Bang Bang was a hit for Ariana Grande, Jessie J and what other singer.” It was the sort of thing I just would not have known but my wife Zoe asked me the question a few nights before. I spent three seconds thinking “I know this’’ and came up with Nicki Minaj and it meant I set a new record for the highest chase.

Nicki Minaj! Your nieces will love you for that answer but maybe not the boys in the pub.

I know. There have been a few questions in the multiple choice rounds in which I said “you know what? I got that wrong but I am OK with that.’’ Such as the name of Katy Perry’s pet cat (Kitty Purry). I felt my credibilty actually went up by getting it wrong.

Have you ever got a cricket question wrong?

Only one. Just a random stat I had never come across ... who hit the most sixes in a Test innings, Chris Gayle, Adam Gilchrist or Wasim Akram? I guessed Gayle but Wasim was the answer.

Do you often get recognised by the public?

Occasionally. I have just got out of my car at the MCG and the attendant said “ah, The Shark.’’ We had a photo.

Cricket scribe and quiz master ... contrasting lives?

Yes. In the cricket job I ask the questions and in The Chase I answer them. I sometimes joke that I have two dream jobs. I have been a cricket tragic since I was a kid and also to be into my trivia and work in that area as well is a dream come true really.

You went on Sale of the Century as a teenager. What was that like?

I won three nights on it when I was 19. It was one of those suituations where I was so young I did not have anywhere near the knowledge I have now. I won a car care package and a Wiggles pack I gave to my nephew.

Are quiz champions born or made?

It’s a good question. I think you have to be born with an interest in it. It is not dissimilar to being born with a sporting talent. You need a good memory and an interest in it but you have to train for it.

The Channel 7 promos said you were a cross between Shane Warne and, of all people, David Warner. I thought ‘hang on, when did Brydon ever punch someone in a bar’?

Yes. I saw that and chuckled a bit. Gee, what can I say ...

The Shark’s been stumped at last!