Former England fast bowler David ‘Syd’ Lawrence has passed away at the age of 61 after a year-long battle with motor neurone disease (MND).
According to Reuters, Lawrence made history as the first British-born Black cricketer to play for England.
His family confirmed his passing in a heartfelt statement, saying, “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Syd. He was an inspiration to many and faced every challenge, including his illness, with remarkable courage.”
They added that his care for others and his ability to uplift people remained strong right up to his final days, reflecting the kind of person he was both on and off the field.
Lawrence represented England in five Test matches and enjoyed a long domestic career with Gloucestershire, taking an impressive 625 wickets across 280 matches. He made his Test debut in 1988 at Lord’s against Sri Lanka and is remembered for his standout performance at The Oval in 1991, where he took five wickets against the West Indies.
Beyond playing, Lawrence broke more ground in 2022 by becoming Gloucestershire County Cricket Club’s first Black president. Earlier this year, he was also named one of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s first-ever Honorary Life Vice-Presidents.
Richard Thompson, chairman of the ECB, paid tribute, calling him “a true leader of English cricket, a man of immense strength, integrity, and compassion.”
