ALLSPORT HULTON/ARCHIVE/PATRICK EAGAR/POPPERFOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES innings heroics after his first- off by team-mates Massie is clapped BELOW Lord’s on Test debut at Massie bowling Australia’s Bob LEFT asked, ‘Did you get my pieceaboutMassie?’Hesaid ‘Yes, Sunday Times. John Lovesey was the sportseditor. I the FleetStreetpapersandthenby Wednesday Irang journalism. Anyway, Iwrotethethingup. Iwrote toall thought itwas oddthat nooneelsehadseenthis. wickets withoutswingers, caught intheslipsorbehind. I could seeit. Ithinkhetookallofhiseightsecond-innings lads, ‘He changed hisactionfor that one’, but noone the wicket bowling enormousoutswingers. Isaidto the Test on TV at teaandtherewas Massiebowling around Chappell gotabighundred. it, it’s soobvious.’ Nextday Iwent towatch, andGreg ever sincehegotout. SoIsaid, ‘Oh, you’re boundtosee for theinswinger’. BriansaidBoycs hasbeenstudying it you seenwhat Massieisdoing?He’s changing hisaction saw Brianbehindthepavilion, andIsaidtohim, ‘Have for Alan Knott, whowas caughtbehind. inswinger. All wickets were eitherbowled orlbw, except he tookeightwickets inthefirstinnings, allwiththe has changed hisaction for that delivery. This carriedon: sitting nexttoHaroldPinter, andIsaidtohimthat Massie right outofline…Isaw thisstraightaway. Iwas actually delivery was hisfirstinswinger, andhisrightarmcomes up tohisear, heturnshisshouldersrightaround. This completely. Hisoutswing action, hiselbow goesright television. I saw that Massiehadchanged hisaction he was sorarely bowled whenplaying defensively. suddenly bowled for 11. Itwas abigshock toeverybody as big outswingers. Hewas lookinguntroubledbut was was bowling fromtheNurseryEndat Geoffrey Boycott, bowled by DennisLilleefromthePavilion End. Massie the pavilion. John Edrich andBrianLuckhurst were sneak inthroughthekitchens. Iwent tothetoptierof though Iwasn’t amemberofMCC,” hesaid. “I usedto up thestory. “I usedtogetintotheLord’s pavilion even against West Indiesin1987/88. Test debutant untilIndia’s NarendraHirwani’s 16for 136 “I wasn’t ajournalistat thetime, but Ihaddonesome “On theSaturday Iwas playing for Bromley. They hadthe “I knew theKentpeople, Iplayed intheKentLeague. I “So what Idid, Iwent tothebarhave alookat the Gwynn, now 73andliving inRichmond, Surrey, takes The The second inningshetookjusttheonewicket –Edrich, who bowled well inthefirstinnings, taking4 for 43, but inthe who said, ‘I’ll readitoffthepitch, mate’. Massiestill interested, includingBoycott, apartfromJohn Edrich, me tohave achat withthem, soIdidandeveryone was off. Anyway before EnglandhadtheirsupperRay asked behind the Australian net, andIanChappelltoldmetof*** doesn’t agreewithit.’ Robin Marler[cricket correspondent]islookingat it, but Trent Bridgeandtalktotheothers. you have somethinghere, soIwant you tocomeup square together, andIllingworth saidtome, ‘Look Ithink somewhere Iplayed often. Soat teawe went ontothe was captainingLeicestershireagainstKentat Maidstone, a lotofinterest. Ray Illingworth wants tomeetyou. He a dreamfor acricket nutlikeme. The the frontpage, said, ‘Secrets ofabowler exposed’. Itwas the before hebowled it, which Idid. About 10days later took sixwickets. Ihadtocallwhat hewas goingtobowl Road, Massiebowled Leicestershireoutfor 34, andhe watch himinthetourmatch, withBrianScovell. At Grace Massie’s action, andthey askedmetogoLeicester me tocomeinat lunchtime. Iwent inanddemonstrated and saidthey were interestedinmy story, andasked I stood behindtheAustralian “So Iwent uptoNottingham. Irememberstanding “Then ontheFriday the interested, includingBoycott me to f*** off. Everyone me towas f*** Mail came outwiththeirdouble-pagespread, andon net, andIanChappell told our very own editor? Massie’s was any different.” It baffled mewhennoonecouldtell that So Ifelt Iknew the signsofpeople’s actions. actions. Mysignature was BrianStatham. was withKent, usedtoimitate people’s games, meandJames Graham-Brown, who a neat tale, isn’t it? When Iplayed, after I mainly covered rugby,” saidGwynn. “It’s and Ibecameasportsjournalist, although the it changed my life completely because place, andbecamearadiocommentator. wickets. Soonafterhelosteven hisstate against Pakistan that winter, takingeight profession, heplayed only two more Tests, squared theseriesthere. A bankerby for 146–at The Oval, althoughthetourists Headingley, andhadamodestreturn–2 wicketless in Australia’s heavy defeat at shouldered armsandlosthisoffstump.” Was Gwynntheprototype ‘Analyst’, before “Massie barely tookanother wicket but The match was drawn. Massiewent Mail said they’d takemetoother Tests Daily Mail BOB MASSIE |FEATURE sports desk rang sports deskrang Mail said therewas thecricketer.com |61