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The fast bowling optometrist from Wagga Wagga was identifed as a Test
prospect by Australia very early on, not least because Geoff Lawson drew
attention to himself by hitting England batsmen with bouncers. He had
first played for New South Wales in 1977-78 and was taken to India on
the Australian tour of 1979-80, although he did not play in a Test. He
made his debut in New Zealand in 1980-81, bowling first change to Lillee
and Pascoe. He began the 1981 tour of England promisingly, taking 7-81
at Lord's and 3-32 in the first innings at Headingley, only to suffer
from the broad unstoppable bat of Ian Botham in the second when he ended
up with 1-96 in 23 overs.
Against England in 1982-83 he took 5-108 in
Perth, 6-47 and 5-87 in Brisbane and nine wickets in Adelaide. There was
also 5-49 against Pakistan at Brisbane in 1983-84 and 8-112 against
West Indies at Adelaide a year later. He took 22 wickets in Australia's
unsuccessful Ashes campaign of 1985, but lost his place as Allan Border
rebuilt the team in the late 1980s. He did taste the first fruits of
Border's success, returning to lead the attack in England in 1989 when
he took 29 wickets, including 6-72 at Old Trafford. His most important
contribution was probably the 74 he made at Lord's in company with Steve
Waugh on the only occasion that summer that the Australian batting
faltered. Lawson played in the 1983 World Cup when he took 3-29 against
the West Indies at Headingley. (Bob Harragan)
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