Mark Taylor has paid homage to Bill Lawry following reports the legendary Nine cricket commentator is set to hang up the microphone after a stellar 40-year career.
The Sunday Telegraph reported that Lawry, 81, has declined offers from Channel Seven and Fox Sports to join their commentary teams when they take over the cricket rights this summer.
“What a terrific legacy he’s left,” Taylor told Sports Sunday.
“And Bill would love me to say he’s a plumber. Bill’s a plumber by trade, he got asked by Kerry Packer to become a commentator 40-odd years ago.
“Kerry rings him up, he says, “No, I’m not going to do it.” Apparently, Kerry says to Bill, “Richie’s going to host it” and he said, “Where do I sign?”
Lawry had a reputation as a dour opening batsman but he entertained millions of Australians with his colourful commentary every summer.
His memorable catchphrases included “It’s all happening” and ‘Got him, yes” but he had scaled back his commitments to the Sydney and Melbourne Tests in recent years for personal reasons.
“That’s the first thing I found extraordinary when I joined the commentary team 19 years ago, that difference in Bill,” Taylor said.
“He was a dour cricketer, very hard to get out, fine player but as a commentator, great fun.”
Lawry was presented with a car by Nine last year to celebrate his 80th birthday and told Wide World of Sports how much fun he’d had calling cricket for the last four decades.
"We've been very lucky, and when I talk 'we' I'm talking about cricket which is my first love, and Channel Nine have done such a great job over the years,” Lawry said.
"I've been lucky enough for the last 40 years to see the best cricketers in the world from one of the best seats in the house but also to work with some of the guys in the commentary team.
"You're very lucky when you get to my age, 80, to be mixing it with players of yesteryear like Mark Taylor, and Slater, and the wicketkeeper of the century Ian Healy, and Ian Chappell for 38 years.
"We've gone from the non-professional period right through to professional cricket today.
"Every professional cricketer in the world should be on their knees thanking Kerry Packer, because he changed it much more rapidly than what it would have changed. It needed a big change and he shook it up.
"It's just been a wonderful journey and well may it continue."
https://wwos.nine.com.au/2018/05/13...rement-reports-for-legendary-nine-commentator
The end of a era, with Richie Benaud passing away, and now another great of the commentary retiring the end has come.
There wont be anyone else like these two greats of the game and in the commentary box.
Bill was always going to retire after Ch 7 got the rights for the cricket, just too loyal I knew he was going to retire.
The Sunday Telegraph reported that Lawry, 81, has declined offers from Channel Seven and Fox Sports to join their commentary teams when they take over the cricket rights this summer.
“What a terrific legacy he’s left,” Taylor told Sports Sunday.
“And Bill would love me to say he’s a plumber. Bill’s a plumber by trade, he got asked by Kerry Packer to become a commentator 40-odd years ago.
“Kerry rings him up, he says, “No, I’m not going to do it.” Apparently, Kerry says to Bill, “Richie’s going to host it” and he said, “Where do I sign?”
Lawry had a reputation as a dour opening batsman but he entertained millions of Australians with his colourful commentary every summer.
His memorable catchphrases included “It’s all happening” and ‘Got him, yes” but he had scaled back his commitments to the Sydney and Melbourne Tests in recent years for personal reasons.
“That’s the first thing I found extraordinary when I joined the commentary team 19 years ago, that difference in Bill,” Taylor said.
“He was a dour cricketer, very hard to get out, fine player but as a commentator, great fun.”
Lawry was presented with a car by Nine last year to celebrate his 80th birthday and told Wide World of Sports how much fun he’d had calling cricket for the last four decades.
"We've been very lucky, and when I talk 'we' I'm talking about cricket which is my first love, and Channel Nine have done such a great job over the years,” Lawry said.
"I've been lucky enough for the last 40 years to see the best cricketers in the world from one of the best seats in the house but also to work with some of the guys in the commentary team.
"You're very lucky when you get to my age, 80, to be mixing it with players of yesteryear like Mark Taylor, and Slater, and the wicketkeeper of the century Ian Healy, and Ian Chappell for 38 years.
"We've gone from the non-professional period right through to professional cricket today.
"Every professional cricketer in the world should be on their knees thanking Kerry Packer, because he changed it much more rapidly than what it would have changed. It needed a big change and he shook it up.
"It's just been a wonderful journey and well may it continue."
https://wwos.nine.com.au/2018/05/13...rement-reports-for-legendary-nine-commentator
The end of a era, with Richie Benaud passing away, and now another great of the commentary retiring the end has come.
There wont be anyone else like these two greats of the game and in the commentary box.
Bill was always going to retire after Ch 7 got the rights for the cricket, just too loyal I knew he was going to retire.
