Legendary selector Laurie Sawle passes away

Former Australian selector Laurie Sawle AM has passed aged 96. 

Having played 35 first-class matches for Western Australia between 1954 and 1961, Sawle made the transition to WA state selector the following year to great success. 

With six Sheffield Shield titles in his 18 years in the job, Sawle then became a member of Australia’s selection panel between 1982-1995.

Sawle is credited with having a profound influence on that era of Australian cricket, most notably for the breakthrough 1989 Ashes win in England.

Sawle was born in 1925 and earned his nickname ‘The Colonel’ having served in the 7th Australian Infantry Battalion during the Second World War.

His vast contribution as a WA selector and administrator, including a long period on the WACA Board and a brief time as its Chair, saw the most prestigious individual male award in WA cricket named after him. 

"Laurie Sawle was enormous to the fabric of cricket in Western Australia for decades," WA Cricket CEO Christina Matthews said in a statement. 

"He was an incredibly talented and devoted administrator who was prepared to back himself and others in, and his passion for cricket never waned. Even years after his retirement, we’d regularly see him at the WACA Ground cheering WA on.

"The fact our highest individual men’s award is named after him speaks volumes about the type of character he was, and the legacy he left.

"We were incredibly lucky to have him, and remain grateful for everything he achieved.

"The WA Cricket community sends its thoughts to his three children Maryanne, Carmel and Mark and close friends in this difficult time."