Geoff Lawson

Geoffrey Francis Lawson was a tall, right-arm fast bowler from Australia who also represented New South Wales at the domestic level.

Lawson captained NSW from 1988 to 1992 and led the team to the Sheffield Shield title of 1991-92, which was his final first-class game. Such was his captaincy that it inspired some of the greatest future Australian captains, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh, his NSW colleagues.

Fondly known as “Henry” after the Australian poet, Lawson first attracted eyeballs on the international front in 1978-79 when he hit Geoffrey Boycott with a series of bouncers. Tall and lively, he was Australia’s leading fast bowler for a brief period, until injury came knocking. He established himself as the leading bowler in Australia’s tour of England in 1982. Later, replacing injured Dennis Lillee, he spearheaded the bowling attack in the Ashes series of 1982-83 with 34 wickets at an average of 20.20, for which he was adjudged “Player of the series”.

In 2007, Lawson was named coach of the Pakistan cricket team for a period of 2 years. During his tenure, Pakistan reached the finals of the ICC World Twenty20. Later, in 2011, he was selected to coach the now defunct franchise of Kochi Tuskers Kerala in the IPL.