Bill Lawry's 1969 Tour of India
Suresh K S
calling options) - when the following incident from 1969 came up.
What did Lawry say that riled up the Madras crowd? My grandfather
thought he said "bloody Chepauk wicket" and my dad thinks he said
"bloody Indian wickets."
Lawry must have disliked the Chepauk wicket - looks like it turned
from day 1 (most of the wickets went to the spinners - Prasanna,
Mallett, Venkat, were the chief wreckers. Australia won the test
though.
My grandfather also rated Doug Walters's knock as one of the very best
against spin on turning wicket.
Suresh K S
Viz.S...@gmail.com
And so? I am not sure I am getting this but what is the point of this
post, again? Are you sharing an anecdote from your dad, and grandpa?
If so, cool. If not, then what?
Suresh K S
The question (in the post) was "What did Lawry say that riled up the
Madras crowd?"
Suresh
will_s
<Viz.S...@gmail.com> wrote in message
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He asked a question and would like to know what Lawry said.
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"Suresh K S" <sureshka...@gmail.com> wrote in message
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Dougie Walters was my favorite cricketer of all time. A great bat who had a
great record except in England.
And yes against spin Doug was one of the best all time batsmen.
alvey
> I was talking Cricket to my folks - (thank god/Ambani for cheap
> calling options) - when the following incident from 1969 came up.
> What did Lawry say that riled up the Madras crowd? My grandfather
> thought he said "bloody Chepauk wicket" and my dad thinks he said
> "bloody Indian wickets."
From a very dusty mental library.... I have a vague that the trubble at
Madras was rooted in politics and not cricket. (The photo of Lawry & the
Fallen Photographer supports this theory.)
alvey
alvey
Went looking. Food for a feast from Wikipedia on the Oz tour of India in
1969.
"India in 1969嚙碾70: historic win and riots
Lawry's last success as captain came during the five-Test tour to India in
1969嚙碾70. The 3嚙碾1 win was to be Australia's last Test series victory in
India for 35 years, standing out among a series of subsequent failed
attempts by Australian leaders to conquer the subcontinent. However, at the
time, Lawry and Australia's victory was overshadowed by the public
relations disasters that beset the tour.
The tour started with a stop in Ceylon, where the Australians played three
one-day matches and an unofficial Test.[17]
The First Test in Bombay saw Australia take a lead of 74 runs on the first
innings. The match was marred by a controversial umpiring decision on the
fourth day when Srinivas Venkataraghavan was given out caught behind after
missing the ball by roughly a foot.[11][18] Most of the Australian players
were dissatisfied with the events, feeling that the batsman had been
robbed.[19] In the meantime, the public address system declared that Lawry
and his men had cheated.[19] It resulted in crowd rioting and the crowd
started to shout "Lawry, Lawry, Lawry".[20] The spectators lit fires and
threw projectiles at the Australians after Lawry refused to adjourn the
match, contrary to police advice that warned them to run for their
lives.[21] During the chaos, Johnny Gleeson was hit in the head by a
bottle, and when the teams left the field at the end of the Indian innings,
Lawry was hit by a flying chair.[22] Australia went on to win by eight
wickets after the Indians fell for 137, sparking off another riot.[11][16]
Former Indian captain Lala Amarnath defended Lawry, saying that he was not
responsible for the umpiring error. Ajit Wadekar, who played in the match,
said that "With a little graciousness, the unfortunate episode嚙皺could have
been avoided". He said that an Australian win was inevitable, so Lawry
should have adjourned the game and defused the riot.[23] In another
incident, Lawry threw his baggy green cap on the ground after the umpires
adjourned play for the luncheon interval; Lawry felt that there was time
for one more over.[24]
After a draw in the Second Test in Kanpur, the teams proceeded to Delhi for
the Third Test. Australia batted first and took a 73-run lead on a spinning
surface. In the second innings, Lawry became the sixth Australian to carry
the bat in Tests, making an unbeaten 49 as Australia collapsed for 107
against Bishan Singh Bedi and Erapalli Prasanna.[22] Australia were
confident that the Indians would not be able to make the target of 181 on a
deteriorating pitch after 19 wickets had fallen for 167 on the second
day.[25][11] However, following the rest day, India comfortably won the
match by seven wickets to square the series. Australian spinner Ashley
Mallett claimed that India's Ashok Mankad later admitted that the hosts had
switched the pitches on the rest day so they could bat on a favourable
pitch.[26]
During the Fourth Test at Eden Gardens in Calcutta, a surge in the demand
for tickets caused a last day stampede, which resulted in running battles
between fans and police, leaving six dead and hundred injured.[27] This was
exacerbated by protests by the Communist Party of India (CPI), a major
political party in West Bengal, against Australian batsman Doug Walters.
Walters had been conscripted during the Vietnam War period, although he was
never sent to Vietnam to fight against the communist Vietcong.[16]
Nevertheless, CPI activists erected posters across the city claiming that
Walters had killed women and children.[27] Around 10,000 communists
picketed the Australian hotel and some eventually broke in and vandalised
it.[28][27]
On the field, there were more riots following a second innings Indian
batting collapse. Spectators on the top deck of the stands threw rocks,
prompting those in the lower stands to invade the playing arena. This
interrupted Australia's pursuit of 39 runs for victory, which was achieved
without the loss of a wicket. During the stoppage, Lawry had an on-field
altercation with a local photographer who had run onto the ground, pushing
the pressman away with his bat.[16] The Indian newspapers reported that
Lawry had knocked the man over and then struck him with his bat. Lawry and
his batting partner Keith Stackpole claimed that he had tried to shepherd
the photographer from the playing area, who then stumbled and fell.[28][23]
In any case, the crowd responded by stoning the Australian team bus as they
left the ground following their victory.[11] Following the incident, the
Indian media began to wear black armbands and incited the populace against
the Australians.[23]
Even in the non-international tour matches, Lawry's team could not escape
controversy. The next match against South Zone at Bangalore generated more
allegations of cheating. Australia's reserve wicketkeeper Ray Jordon
claimed that Alan Connolly had bowled Prasanna. Prasanna disagreed but
eventually walked after Jordon repeatedly insisted that he was out. The
Australians then had an altercation in the dressing room after some members
accused Jordon of cheating, asserting that the delivery had missed the
stumps.[29] Lawry scored 120 in the first innings, his only century of the
tour. Australia needed to bat for only two hours on the final day to
salvage a draw, but a collapse had them eight down with an hour left with
Lawry still at the crease.[30] Gleeson came out to bat and talked with both
umpires at length before taking guard; he later claimed to teammates that
he had threatened to hit the umpires in the head if they gave him out.[31]
Gleeson then padded every ball away, but every leg before wicket appeal was
rejected. In an attempt to waste time, Lawry pulled away from the wicket
when a woman in a colourful sari walked into front of the sightscreen,
leading to allegations that he had insulted Indian womanhood.[32][23] In
any case, the crowd expressed dismay at the Australian tactics by rioting
and throwing rocks at the players.[31] The match ended early and Australia
avoided being the first international team to lose to an Indian zone.[23]
Following the match, many former Australian players called for the tour to
be abandoned, citing the safety of the team.[33][28] Nevertheless, the
series continued and Lawry's men received a positive welcome upon arrival
for the Fifth Test in Madras. They won the match in just over three days by
77 runs to clinch the series 3嚙碾1,[28] but Lawry's team left India with
Australia's reputation severely dented.[32][11] Perhaps as a result of the
controversy, Lawry could only manage 239 runs at 34.14 for the series.[7]
On reflection, Lawry stated "It was the toughest tour I've ever been on.
There were very pleasant memories on the field, but very unpleasant ones
from the accommodation, the type of travel, the food we were getting and
lack of support we were getting from the board."[34]
Following the tour, Lawry wrote a series of newspaper articles that
criticised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and their
treatment of the Australian team.[28] The BCCI complained to the Australian
Board of Control, objecting to Lawry's "exaggerated and baseless"
statements.[23] The ABC replied to express "appreciation at the high level
of hospitality and interested exhibited by Indian cricket authorities and
the public".[28] Lawry's official report to the board criticised the level
of security and insurance for the players.[28]"
alvey
Suresh K S
> On Sun, 31 May 2009 17:32:59 +1000, alvey wrote:
> > On Fri, 29 May 2009 17:47:15 -0700 (PDT), Suresh K S wrote:
>
> >> I was talking Cricket to my folks - (thank god/Ambani for cheap
> >> calling options) - when the following incident from 1969 came up.
> >> What did Lawry say that riled up the Madras crowd? My grandfather
> >> thought he said "bloody Chepauk wicket" and my dad thinks he said
> >> "bloody Indian wickets."
>
> > From a very dusty mental library.... I have a vague that the trubble at
> > Madras was rooted in politics and not cricket. (The photo of Lawry & the
> > Fallen Photographer supports this theory.)
>
> > alvey
>
> Went looking. Food for a feast from Wikipedia on the Oz tour of India in
> 1969.
>
>
> Lawry's last success as captain came during the five-Test tour to India in
> India for 35 years, standing out among a series of subsequent failed
> attempts by Australian leaders to conquer the subcontinent. However, at the
> time, Lawry and Australia's victory was overshadowed by the public
> relations disasters that beset the tour.
> The tour started with a stop in Ceylon, where the Australians played three
> one-day matches and an unofficial Test.[17]
> The First Test in Bombay saw Australia take a lead of 74 runs on the first
> innings. The match was marred by a controversial umpiring decision on the
> fourth day when Srinivas Venkataraghavan was given out caught behind after
> missing the ball by roughly a foot.[11][18] Most of the Australian players
> were dissatisfied with the events, feeling that the batsman had been
> robbed.[19] In the meantime, the public address system declared that Lawry
> and his men had cheated.[19] It resulted in crowd rioting and the crowd
> started to shout "Lawry, Lawry, Lawry".[20] The spectators lit fires and
> threw projectiles at the Australians after Lawry refused to adjourn the
> match, contrary to police advice that warned them to run for their
> lives.[21] During the chaos, Johnny Gleeson was hit in the head by a
> bottle, and when the teams left the field at the end of the Indian innings,
> Lawry was hit by a flying chair.[22] Australia went on to win by eight
> wickets after the Indians fell for 137, sparking off another riot.[11][16]
> Former Indian captain Lala Amarnath defended Lawry, saying that he was not
> responsible for the umpiring error. Ajit Wadekar, who played in the match,
> Australia's reputation severely dented.[32][11] Perhaps as a result of the
> controversy, Lawry could only manage 239 runs at 34.14 for the series.[7]
> On reflection, Lawry stated "It was the toughest tour I've ever been on.
> There were very pleasant memories on the field, but very unpleasant ones
> from the accommodation, the type of travel, the food we were getting and
> lack of support we were getting from the board."[34]
> Following the tour, Lawry wrote a series of newspaper articles that
> criticised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and their
> treatment of the Australian team.[28] The BCCI complained to the Australian
> Board of Control, objecting to Lawry's "exaggerated and baseless"
> statements.[23] The ABC replied to express "appreciation at the high level
> of hospitality and interested exhibited by Indian cricket authorities and
> the public".[28] Lawry's official report to the board criticised the level
> of security and insurance for the players.[28]"
>
> alvey
Interesting. Many thanks for the posting.
> be abandoned, citing the safety of the team.[33][28] Nevertheless, the
> series continued and Lawry's men received a positive welcome upon arrival
> for the Fifth Test in Madras.
Thank god that there was some sanity left - at least in my favorite
corner of the world.
History repeats itself once in a while in India - Australia encounters
it would seem. Oh well.
Suresh
P.S. Was there ever a riot in Australia over a Test or was a Test ever
abandoned or aborted midway (in Australia) because of crowd behavior?
John Hall
<be112bd7-bc54-4ab6...@o30g2000vbc.googlegroups.com>,
Suresh K S <sureshka...@gmail.com> writes:
>P.S. Was there ever a riot in Australia over a Test or was a Test ever
>abandoned or aborted midway (in Australia) because of crowd behavior?
Not exactly a Test, but this may be of interest:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Riot_of_1879
--
John Hall "Hard work often pays off after time, but laziness always
pays off now." Anon
Suresh K S
>
> Not exactly a Test, but this may be of interest:
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Riot_of_1879
> --
Interesting. Wasn't there some fracas involving John Snow and some
Aussie spectators? Snow was manhandled and he let fly against some of
the louts that put their hands on him. Game stopped for a while? Or
was the usual remedy - ask the player involved to field in the slips
away from the reach of flying water bottles - enough? I remember
seeing a photograph somewhere of somebody pulling Snow by the sweater
(perhaps in Cricket Rebel).
Still far from a riot. While on the subject of crowds and riots, Tony
Grieg - as the captain of the team in India in 1977 - handled an ugly
crowd situation with a deft touch that would have made a politician
proud.
Suresh
John Hall
<0bed9072-9d90-44ae...@s31g2000vbp.googlegroups.com>,
>
>>
>> Not exactly a Test, but this may be of interest:
>>
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Riot_of_1879
>> --
>
>Interesting. Wasn't there some fracas involving John Snow and some
>Aussie spectators? Snow was manhandled and he let fly against some of
>the louts that put their hands on him. Game stopped for a while? Or
>was the usual remedy - ask the player involved to field in the slips
>away from the reach of flying water bottles - enough? I remember
>seeing a photograph somewhere of somebody pulling Snow by the sweater
>(perhaps in Cricket Rebel).
That was on the 1970-1 tour. Illingworth led the team off the field. I
imagine there will be something about it in Snow's and/or Illingworth's
Wiki article, or there may be an article on the tour itself.
>
>Still far from a riot. While on the subject of crowds and riots, Tony
>Grieg - as the captain of the team in India in 1977 - handled an ugly
>crowd situation with a deft touch that would have made a politician
>proud.
There was a Test in, IIRC 1969, on an England tour to Pakistan that was
abandoned when the crowd rioted. But they weren't rioting against the
cricketers but against the government.
And there have been a couple of riots in the West Indies over the years,
one in 1953-4 I think and another in 1967-8. Those were both sparked by
umpiring decisions. The decisions may well have been correct, but
apparently there was a lot of betting on players reaching certain
landmarks, and when they failed to do so as a result of close decisions
there was trouble.