THE last time former Australian fast bowler Geoff Lawson graced the hallowed turf of Wade Park, he was steaming in off his long run for NSW against New Zealand.
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“I honestly can’t remember what even happened in the game,” Lawson laughed.
“I know we had a good night, and there was plenty of hospitality afterward.”
On Friday, he rewound the clock on his return to Orange’s premier sporting ground as the Destination NSW Home Ground Tour’s - a regional road show promoting the 2015 ICC World Cup - special guest.
Lawson was on hand to launch the second day of the tour yesterday, and give the excited crowd of school kids tips and pointers in the inflatable nets set up on the edge of Wade Park.
Being a Wagga Wagga native, Lawson - who took 180 Test Match wickets for Australia - said he jumped at the chance to return to the bush to promote cricket.
“I love coming back out to the country for this type of thing,” he said.
“I was actually just telling the groundsman (Bruce Cousins) about when I did play here.
“It was when I was captaining NSW, in about 1990. It hasn’t changed much, the deck was good that day and it looks first class quality out there now.
“It’s fantastic.”
Lawson lauded the concept of the tour, saying the nursery that is country cricket has been neglected in the past, labelling exhibitions like the Home Ground Tour “essential” to the development of grassroots cricket.
“They aren’t just important, they’re essential,” he said.
“There is a lot of people in state teams from the country, so we need to keep getting the kids out here involved and promoting the game.
“I can still remember when Ian Chappell came to my high school in about 1973 like it was yesterday. It just inspires the kids.
“I’m just here to show my face, help out with the kids and enjoy myself, which I am.”
Lawson also took part in last night’s Orange Celebrities match, bowling the first over of each innings in the invitational game. With Trevor Chappell - exponent of the infamous underarm ball - joining the tour, Lawson suggested his body is only really capable of doing that.
“I’m too old for this type of thing. I practice a bit, but I definitely don’t bowl anymore,” he laughed.