Laurie Sawle

Lawrence Michael Sawle (born 19 August 1925) is a former first-class cricketer and chairman of selectors for the Australia national cricket team.

Laurie Sawle served in the 7th Australian Infantry Battalion during the Second World War. He enlisted in January 1944 and served until July 1946. He saw action on Bougainville.[1][2]

Sawle played for Western Australia from 1954-55 to 1960-61 as a patient opening batsman. His highest score was 109 not out, when he led the successful struggle to save the match against New South Wales in 1955-56.[3]

He had a distinguished career as state selector from 1961-62 to 1979-80,[4] then as a senior WACA administrator, director of the Australian Cricket Board and chairman of selectors for the national team from 1994 to 1997.[5] In his state selector role, Sawle partnered with Allan Edwards and Wally Langdon during the Western Australian team's most successful years. He managed the Australian cricket team in England in 1989, when Australia regained The Ashes.[1]

He worked as a school teacher. He has been awarded the AM, the Australian Sports Medal, the Centenary Medal and the ICC Volunteer Recognition Medal.[4][1] He and his wife Lorna have three children, Maryanne, Carmel and Mark.