​Got Him, Gone, Yes: Bill Lawry Is Back In The Commentary Box

One of the last surviving members of the golden era of Australian cricket commentary is back behind the microphone for the Boxing Day Test, and it's glorious. For many cricket fans, the recall of Bill Lawry to the commentary squad will be more noteworthy than the selection dramas of Australia or Pakistan.

Once the soundtrack to the Australian summer, Channel Nine's (free-to-air) commentary team was rocked by the loss of three legends in quick succession. In the case of Richie Benaud and Tony Greig it was permanent. The pair passed away in 2015 and 2012 respectively, leaving a hole in Australian sporting life that has not been filled.

It also exposed the lack of talent in waiting. Over the coming years the James Brayshaw led commentary outfit descended into mire of mediocrity and dad jokes. Lawry, perhaps seeing the writing on the wall, had already melted into the shadows. Only Ian Chappel remained from the golden era but he alone couldn't save it.

The Guardian's Geoff Lemon captured it best in his excoriating critique of the new-look commentary team (shared 39K times at last count):

Michael Slater plays the daft little brother who bounces around after the big kids until they let him have a go. James Brayshaw has the emotional depth of a sock puppet during a button shortage. Between them they offer insights like "Whey-hey!" and "Look out!" and "Turn it up!". Mark Taylor, Ian Healy, Brett Lee and Warne descend to that level. Mike Hussey perches quietly to one side. Mark Nicholas, a fine writer on the game, stands like a school-play caricature of a nobleman stranded in the colonies, unable to hedge or redirect.

Here comes that fresh middle-aged banter: did you know Warnie used to be fat? Or that Braysh spends an hour in front of the mirror? But Tubs is thinning on top, look out! Maybe time for an Advanced Hair joke. Back to Heals for more about the lobster at lunch before Warnie runs a poll about pizza. It's a mode that cricket writer Jarrod Kimber describes as "embarrassing dads", with Ian Chappell "looking more and more like a professor at a keg party."

The axe was wielded at the start of 2016. James Brayshaw was not named in Channel Nine's plans for the future. Nor were former Australian Test players Mike Hussey and Brett Lee. With Lawry back in the mix for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, and 'Chappelly' still holding it down, the broadcast tone is something back to what I remember. The stoic professionalism, subtle humour and deliciously meditative monotony that made Test Cricket one of the great, pacifying meditations of my youth has returned. When it's good there's nothing more relaxing on earth.