Legendary Channel Nine commentator Bill Lawry receives car for his 80th bday

Legend has it that the late Channel Nine boss Kerry Packer promised Bill Lawry a car almost forty years ago. On Tuesday he ultimately received it.

“I used to grovel with 'Greigy' (the late Tony Greig) just to keep my job originally,” the esteemed cricket commentator told Broad World of Sports.

“I can't divulge the entire story (about the car).

“There's a bit of thunder about today, he might be listening.”

Lawry was flown to Sydney on Tuesday from his Melbourne home to feast his eighty th bday and receive the keys to his brand fresh Toyota Prado (silver, for those playing at home) from Nine chief executive officer Hugh Marks.

The former Australian captain had a sneaking suspicion something was up when he was invited up but he didn’t know just how far Nine were going to go to say thank you.

“I thought it was just a genuine attempt to say glad bday, particularly losing Richie (Benaud) and Tony it's not been a good duo of years for us at Channel Nine,'' Lawry said.

MOST POPULAR

McGregor 'strong' in decision to axe Dugan

England loses to 'worst team in fifty years'

Warring F1 drivers bury hatchet (for now)

“But I'm going to drape on as long as I can.

“Being married to a good wifey has always been the anchor of my life and the fact I look after myself the best I can is all I can do.”

Nine chief executive Hugh Marks (right) said Bill Lawry (centre, with Nine operations and production manger Ron Castorina, left) had helped define the network.

Marks paid tribute to the iconic commentator and said he would proceed calling for Nine for as long as he dreamed to be part of the activity.

“This network's defined by people like Bill,” Marks said.

“They are the people who make it superb.

“His contribution has been long and deep and meaningful over many years.

“He's a fantastic part of the team and the only problem with arranging the car for his eighty th was he turned around and quipped, 'Gee, I was indeed hoping for a gold observe'.”

Lawry was joined by Marks, Nine's Director of Sport Tom Malone, Nine's Head of Cricket Brent Williams, operations and production manager Ron Castorina, and fellow cricket commentators Ian Chappell, Ian Healy, Mark Taylor and Michael Slater to help feast the occasion.

Chappell was quick to place his order for a more luxurious car, Slater revved the engine, Healy sat in the back seat making pigeon coo noises for the camera, while Healy informed Marks that Packer had promised him a house when his eighty th bday spinned around.

Lawry's only prerequisite for the car was that it was big enough to house his beloved pigeons, but he admits he might have some explaining to do to his wifey Joy when he gets home now as it emerges to be thicker than their garage.

Michael Slater, Bill Lawry and Ian Healy had joy testing out his fresh Toyota Prado for his 80th bday.

“It's good, and Toyota are tremendous sponsors of cricket as well,” Lawry said.

“Cricket needs sponsorship because there's a lot of competition out there.

“We've been very fortunate, and when I talk 'we' I'm talking about cricket which is my very first love, and Channel Nine have done such a good job over the years.

“I've been fortunate enough for the last forty years to see the best cricketers in the world from one of the best seats in the house but also to work with some of the guys in the commentary team.

“You're very fortunate when you get to my age, 80, to be mixing it with players of yesteryear like Mark Taylor, and Slater, and the wicketkeeper of the century Ian Healy, and Ian Chappell for thirty eight years.

“We've gone from the non-professional period right through to professional cricket today.

“Every professional cricketer in the world should be on their knees thanking Kerry Packer, because he switched it much more rapidly than what it would have switched. It needed a big switch and he shook it up.

“It's just been a wonderful journey and well may it proceed.”

Bill Lawry (centre) has loved calling all the cricket act with fellow commentators (from left) Michael Slater, Ian Chappell, Ian Healy and Mark Taylor.

Lawry has been struck with the Australian's spectacle for the Border-Gavaskar trophy in India and said he was looking forward to calling all the activity for the Ashes against England next summer.

“The Aussies have done a superb job in India, better than I think anyone thought they would under their conditions and hopefully they'll win the final Test match,” Lawry said.

“I'm truly looking forward to the Ashes because I think five Tests is the big thing. It's the real Test. We see a lot of two-Test series and three-Test series and I thought last summer was so unfortunate that South Africa only played three Tests.

“The hype of this series against India, and the fact our inexperienced players have played so well, is a testament that maybe we got it right by introducing youth at last.

“And the skipper (Steve) Smith has been absolutely phenomenal with Bradman-like spectacles. I'm not telling he's a Bradman, by any open up of the imagination, but you can't do any more than Steve Smith has been doing with the bat since he's taking over the captaincy.”

“I'm truly looking forward to Australia versus England, and I think the public will be very keen to support Australia against hopefully a good England side.”

Related movie: