Laurie Bandy

Lawrence Henry "Laurie" Bandy (3 September 1911 – 18 July 1984) was an Australian cricketer who represented Western Australia in seven first-class matches between 1940 and 1948. Born in Perth, Bandy débuted for Western Australia Colts in 1935, scoring a duck against New South Wales.^[1] He made his first-class debut four-and-a-half years later, in February 1940, playing two matches against a touring South Australian side. For a time during the mid-1940s, Bandy was considered Western Australia's premier batsman. However, WA was not yet admitted into the Sheffield Shield competition, so Bandy was restricted to playing touring sides. Western Australia was admitted into the Shield for the 1947–48 season, albeit on a limited basis. Bandy played three matches in the first season, which included a score of 53 not out, his highest score and only first-class half-century.^[2]

Bandy did not play any further first-class matches. At grade cricket level, holds several records for the Joondalup Cricket Club (previously the North Perth Cricket Club), including the most appearances (273 between the 1930–31 and 1951–52 seasons), and most career runs (8,267). Overall, Bandy played 309 grade cricket matches, the fourth-most of all-time, scoring 9,458 runs, the equal fourth-most of all-time.^[3] He later married a granddaughter of Wally Watts, a noted sportsman who represented Midland-Guildford on the committee of the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA), and was also a brother-in-law of Ted Tyson, a footballer.^[4] Bandy died at his house in Scarborough in 1984.^[5]

References