Bill Lawry was one of the finest Australian opening batters of the post-War era. When he ascended to the captaincy, he initially proved to be one of the most successful.
But his international career ended in ignominy. He became the first Australian captain to be dropped in the middle of a series. He never played for his country again.
By that time, he had already acquired a reputation as a man who would bat all day of he could as well as someone who hated to lose and refuse to walk until given out by the umpires.
He also was not afraid to speak his mind, and this was what first got him in trouble with his board, the ACB (The Australian Cricket Board).
In 1969/70, he led the Australians on their tour of South Africa. Although not known at the time, this was the last official Test series to involve the South Africans for 22 years, before international sanctions imposed due to the apartheid regime took effect.
Australia were overwhelmed on the pitch, losing all four Test matches. But it was what happened behind the scenes that caused Lawry and the ACB to fall out. Both the South Africans and Australian Boards wanted to play an extra test, and offered the tourists USD 200 a man to play in them.
The players countered, demanding USD 500. The ACB did not agree. Lawry, in his capacity as captain, wrote a strongly worded report to the ACB, which did not go down well with his employers.
It meant he was already on thin ice with them by the time that England arrived to play the Ashes Series of 1970/71.
That series became notorious for the defensive tactics adopted by both sides. Lawry, in particular, came in for heavy criticism because of laid-back attitude and refusal to take risks.
Matters came to a head in the sixth Test match, in Adelaide with Australia one down in the series. England had set the Australians an ambitious target of 471 in 500 minutes to win the match and level the series. Despite some of his team wanting Australia to go for the win, Lawry refused to go for it, fearing another defeat.
In the end, Australia finished on 328/3, and there was a feeling they could have won had he been bolder.
His caution cost him the rest of his international career.