'Trailblazer' and former England fast bowler Lawrence dies at 61

Lawrence, the first British-born Black cricketer to represent England, was diagnosed last year with MND, a degenerative condition that causes muscle wastage and affects the brain and nerves.

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4 hours ago

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Barmy Army Honour David Lawrence At Headingley With Musical Tribute

Last Updated: The Barmy Army honoured David "Syd" Lawrence during the first Test between India and England. Lawrence, the first British-born Black cricketer for England, died at 61. English fan group 'The Barmy Army' paid tribute to David 'Syd" Lawrence during day three of the first Test of the five-match series between India and England at Headingley in Leeds on Sunday. The former England fast bowler passed away at the age of 61 after a year-long battle with motor neurone disease (MND). WATCH: Lawrence, the first British-born Black cricketer to represent England, was diagnosed with MND last year. This degenerative condition causes muscle wastage and affects the brain and nerves. 'It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dave Lawrence MBE (King's Birthday Honours) following his brave battle with Motor Neurone Disease," his family said. 'Syd was an inspirational figure on and off the cricket field. A proud Gloucestershire man, Syd faced every challenge with all his might, and his final contest with MND was no different. Lawrence, who earned five Test caps for England, made 280 appearances for Gloucestershire and took 625 wickets for the county. He made his Test debut at Lord's against Sri Lanka in 1988, with his career highlight being a five-wicket haul against the West Indies at the Oval in 1991. In 2022, Lawrence became Gloucestershire County Cricket Club's first Black president and was named one of the inaugural Honorary Life Vice-Presidents of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) earlier this year. ECB chairman Richard Thompson described Lawrence as 'a true trailblazer of English cricket and a man of immense courage, character, and compassion." 'His impact on the game extended far beyond the boundary ropes," Thompson added. 'As a fast bowler, he thrilled crowds with his pace and passion. As a leader and advocate, he broke barriers and inspired change, becoming a powerful voice for inclusion and representation in our sport." Ahead of the start of play, India and England players wore black armbands to pay their respects.

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7 hours ago

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ENG vs IND: Why India and England players wore black armbands today?

India and England players wore black armbands to pay their respect to former fast bowler David Lawrence, who passed away on Sunday. He was 61. Lawrence, who was affectionately known as Syd', played five Tests (18 wickets) and a lone ODI (4 wickets) for England between 1988 and 1992. Lawrence, the first British-born Black cricketer to represent England, was battling motor neurone disease (MND) since last year. Both teams are wearing black armbands to pay their respects to former England Cricketer, David 'Syd' Lawrence, who has sadly passed away. There was a moment's applause before the start of play on Day 3, the BCCI said in a statement. Lawrence was diagnosed with the disease in 2024, a degenerative condition that affects the brain and nerves, leading to muscle wastage and there is no known cure to it. He had also authored a book Syd's Voice' to create awareness about MND and was involved in charity to raise funds for other patients. A Gloucestershire legend, Lawrence amassed 515 wickets from 185 First-Class matches and 155 wickets from 113 List A games. A promising bowler with extreme pace of his time, Lawrence's international career ended when he suffered a serious kneecap injury while bowling against New Zealand at Wellington in 1992.