Bill Lawry Becomes Australia's Captain — The Most Dour Leader in the Country's History, 1968

Australian cricket in the late 1960s was between generations — between the Benaud era and the Chappell era — and Lawry was the capable but unexciting bridge. His dismissal in 1971 was harsh but reflected a genuine desire for more attacking cricket.

Bill Lawry had been Australia's premier opening batsman since the early 1960s, a left-hander of enormous concentration and defensive technique who was the partner to Bob Simpson and later to Keith Stackpole. He became Test captain when Simpson retired from international cricket in late 1967, taking over in time for the India series. As a captain, Lawry was methodical, cautious and unwilling to accept risks — a reflection of his own batting style. His teams were competitive — Australia won in India, drew in England in 1968, and won the first two Ashes Tests in 1970-71 — but his approach of batting for safety rather than victory increasingly frustrated the Australian board and public. In January 1971, midway through the 1970-71 Ashes, the selectors replaced him with Ian Chappell — a humiliating demotion that was announced while Lawry was still on the field. He retired from Test cricket immediately. His 67 Tests as player-captain are the record for the longest successful opening partnership era in Australian cricket.