The Bear Essentials · Season 1, Episode 3
Bob Massie: Bassendean to Lord's
Tue 29 September 2026 · 32 min · with Bob Massie
Bob Massie, the club's first Test cricketer, on filling in as scorer and ending up in fourth grade, the plan behind his 16 wickets on debut at Lord's, and a long career behind the ABC microphone.
Host David Baird talks with former Australian fast bowler Bob Massie about his journey from a young player-administrator at Bayswater Morley to his historic Test debut at Lord’s. Bob shares candid stories of his early struggles, the tactics behind his famous 16-wicket haul against England, and his move into a long commentary career with the ABC. It’s a reminder of how unpredictable elite sport can be, and of the lasting value of loyalty to your grassroots club.
In this episode
- 1:00 Realising at 18, after going wicketless in his first state match, that he had to lift his standard
- 3:31 Playing club cricket in Scotland, for his father’s heritage and regular practice with a Dukes ball
- 6:05 Filling in as scorer for Bassendean, a fourth grade call-up, and 71 wickets in 10 games
- 8:57 Earning his Sheffield Shield debut by winning a bowl-off against Bruce Yardley at the WACA
- 11:08 Hearing he had been picked for Australia on the 8pm ABC radio news while visiting a friend in Sydney
- 16:39 Lord’s: the plan, hatched on the flight over, to bowl around the wicket to John Edrich
- 18:15 A quick and frustrating end to his Test career after losing rhythm in the West Indies
- 21:50 A long broadcasting career with the ABC, including calling the 1992 World Cup Final in front of 85,000 people
- 26:50 Coaching: teaching swing to future Test bowlers Wayne Clark and Bruce Reid, and taking Bayswater Morley to a WACA grand final
- 31:08 Why Greg Chappell was the best batter he ever bowled to
Quotes
“I went out on the ground expecting a booming loudspeaker announcement. Nothing happened. Walked out to the center square, stood at the edge of the center square, looked around at the pavilion and the stands. Not a soul.”
“I was about to change and I thought, hang on, instead of you chopping and changing, just stay here for a bit and see what happens. And, of course, they just kept nicking me.”
“I just said, Alan, I’m not coming down the WACA anymore. I’ve had enough of this selection stuff. If you want me, you know where I am. But I won’t be coming down to training anymore.”