Cricket's aggression will return, says Geoff Lawson

Geoff Lawson

Sydney, Nov 30 (IANS) Former Australian pacer Geoff Lawson feels cricket will return to being played aggressively but appreciated the decision of New Zealand and Pakistan bowlers not to bowl bouncers on day two of the first Test following Phillip Hughes' death.

According to Lawson, the sport would return to its old self but described the actions of New Zealand and Pakistan players in Dubai as a "touching gesture".

"That was incredibly touching, the minute's silence from two teams half a world away to honour Phillip Hughes," Lawson, who was at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday when Hughes was hit on the head during the Sheffield Shield match against South Australia, was quoted as saying by Sydney Morning Herald.

"When (New Zealander) Daniel Vettori bowled that first over, I half expected him to walk off. But they had to get through that day and both sides did."

"When someone got out, there was no reaction from the players. It was like, 'yeah, that's a wicket, move on'. It was a lovely gesture and symbolic (not to bowl bouncers), but I'm 100 percent certain it won't continue in that fashion."

Lawson, who took 180 wickets in his 46 Tests, himself was at the receiving end of Curtly Ambrose bouncer, which broke his jaw in 1988.

The fast bowler blamed himself for that accident.

"I wore a borrowed helmet and it didn't have a grill on it (to protect my face), which was my mistake because I always nearly batted with a grill on," he said.