The welcome return of the 'Phantom' to the MCG

A merry Christmas to all Roarers who have to wait until tomorrow for evergreen cricket commentator Bill Lawry’s return to the Channel Nine airwaves.

It’s 38 years since the former Australian skipper made his debut during World Series Cricket, and the only one left with his great mate and the doyen of broadcasters Richie Benaud who died last April, Keith Stackpole, and West Indian Tony Cozier.

Throughout his career Lawry’s been Victoria and the MCG’s most successful and biased salesman with a quick wit full of Phantom-isms.

So how did the now 78-year-old Phantom get his nickname?

As a tender 18-year-old in his Victorian second XI debut, his skipper told his youngest player to organise food, drink and reading material for the train trip to Adelaide.

They travelled ‘in style’ in those days.

The first two requests were easy enough, but keen Bill decided to arm his team mates with Phantom comic books to read, and the tag stuck.

One thing for sure, Phantom had a nose for defending his wicket from the start as though his very life depended on it.

In his first Ashes appearance at Lord’s in 1961, Lawry’s six-hour 130 with 18 fours in the famous Ridge Test was the epitome of what made him tick throughout his stellar career.

It prompted England’s legendary Daily Mail sports-writer Ian Wooldridge to describe Phantom as the “corpse with pads on”,

But the same Lawry was a complex character. He could be the most boring batsman to watch, one who negatively set out not to lose in his 25 Tests as captain. He accrued just nine wins, eight losses, and eight draws.

Despite this negative attitude, he possesses a sharp sense of humour as one of the very best after-dinner speakers going around.

There’s never been another Bill Lawry and there probably never will be. From tomorrow we’ll hear his legendary calls of “It’s all happening”, “Got him”, “What a ripper”, “What a catch”, and “We are at the ‘G’, the greatest cricket ground in the world”, just to name a few Lawry chestnuts.

For someone who was so negative in his captaincy, he was very positive in his thirst for runs, no matter how long it took, sharing in four big partnerships.

The biggest was his 382 with opening partner Bobby Simpson, an Australian record, against the West Indies in Bridgetown in 1965 – Lawry 210, Simpson 201 without peer as the best runners between wickets I’ve ever seen,

The second the 336 for the fifth wicket with Doug Walters against the West Indies at the SCG in 1969 – Walters 242, Lawry 151 – when Walters became the first Test batsman in history to score a double and a century (103) in the same Test.

The third the 298 for the second wicket with Ian Chappell in 1968 against the West Indies at the MCG in 1968 – Lawry 205, Chappell 165.

And the fourth the 244 for the first wicket with Simpson against England in the first Test at Adelaide in 1966 – Simpson 225, Lawry 119.

Serious numbers, very healthy for a corpse.

But the Lawry story to prove what a prankster he could be took place at the SCG some 50 years ago.

Richie was a fastidious dresser, always last out of the dressing room after stumps.

Phantom got the word around the rest of the team to hang around looking busy without telling them what he had in mind, which they duly did.

If Richie was surprised he didn’t show it, and as usual took his time dressing from his expensive shirt and tie down.

When Richie got to his slip on casual shoes that cost a mint, he stood up and fell forward – Phantom had nailed the priceless brogues to the wooden SCG dressing room floor.

The Australian team broke into peels of uncontrollable laughter, while Richie wasn’t impressed, but the amusing incident never dented the strong friendship he had with Bill Lawry.

Tomorrow Phantom will really miss Richie’s presence, but being the consummate pro, he’ll still be the classic Bill Lawry.

So welcome back Phantom, enjoy the ‘G and the SCG, and a few ODIs as well this summer.

Long may the irrepressible Bill Lawry presence be enjoyed by cricket lovers the world over.