Former England cricketer David Lawrence dies at 61
Gloucestershire [UK], June 22 (ANI): Gloucestershire Cricket released a statement about the sad and unfortunate death of a former cricketer and the club president David Syd Lawrence aged 61.
An announcement made by the club stated that, "Gloucestershire Cricket is saddened to announce the death of our Club President, David, known as Syd, Lawrence MBE at the age of 61. Syd, who spent his last year battling Motor Neurone Disease with the same strength and spirit that characterised his cricketing career, was the same person he always was. Cricket joined forces in his defense, the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA), a charity that both Syd and his family approved of, and was supported by the larger cricketing community, raised money on his behalf."
Efforts raised through fundraisers reached their peak with Pink 4 Syd when the Club celebrated Syd with a pink kit and raised essential funds to MNDA during Gloucestershire Men v Hampshire Hawks in the T20 Blast on June 20.
David Valentine Lawrence was born on 28 January 1964 in Gloucester and made his debut in Gloucestershire when he was only 17 years of age. He spent 16 years in the club and became an icon — a big run up, fearless fast bowler, who seemed to be full of energy. He established a new-ball partnership with West Indies superstar, Courtney Walsh and gave numerous memorable performances.
He had 170 first-class matches (and 477 wickets at 31.27) with 7 best at 47 against Warwickshire. His wicket tally, in 110 games, in one day cricket was 148, 6 of which against a Combined Universities XI in 1991, the third highest performance with 50 overs in Gloucestershire history. Lawrence took an unforgettable hat-trick in a bursting spurt in 1990 against Nottinghamshire and ended with 5 for 51.
Success in his county had won him honours in England. He debuted in Lords against Sri Lanka in 1988 and became the first British-born black man to play Test cricket on the English team. During 1988-1992, he made five Tests, scoring 18 wickets with one being a memorable five-wicket haul in 1991 against the West Indies at The Oval, in the same innings, he also dismissed the great Viv Richards.
He also appeared once in ODIs, but his remarkable numbers of 4/67 are still the highest bowling numbers since a player who was capped at one ODI only. In 1992, a crippling knee injury cut short his international career but the life off the field of Syd was equally impressive. He became a nightclub owner, a competitive body builder and a prominent inclusion and diversity crusader in the game of cricket. But he never lost his feeling of Gloucestershire.
He became the first black President born in Britain in the history of a professional county in 2022 — a title he bore at Gloucestershire Cricket up until the time of his death. It was a return to the county, an important, emotional return, by a man who had done so much to it, and who even now kept its future in arms. He received an MBE in 2025, not only in recognition of his service to cricket, but also in recognition of his service to community and his fearless approach in the face of illness: an honorary Life Vice Presidency of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
After his diagnosis with MND in 2024, Syd continued to be open and defiant. Syd dictated his autobiography, In Syd's Voice in collaboration with cricket writer Dean Wilson, with the help of assistive technology. The book has gained fame being honest, humorous and strong and it was an essential addition to his legacy - to have the character and the drive that had always made him easily recognizable.
Syd was a strong unifying personality in the world of cricket and events, charity matches, and donations kept on coming in all over the globe. The Pink 4 Syd game at Bristol was a celebration, and a farewell - a night when cricket was paying tribute to one of its real personalities.
The statement of the family of David is as follows:
"Dave Lawrence MBE died with great sadness after fighting motor neurone disease very bravely. The people of his family were on the cricket field with him, when his time came, in no greater sense than he himself was inspirational, both on and off the field. Syd was a man with strong roots in Gloucestershire, and he took every challenge and gave it his all and his battle with MND was not any different. It was characteristic of the man he was that he was eager to encourage and think of others to the end."
Syd assumed the presidency of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club with seemingly incredible pride and passion and enjoyed it every minute. Syd, his wife Gaynor and son Buster thank everyone who has been kind and supportive to themselves and the family up to this point and would request that they now be allowed some time and space to mourn privately.
Club Chair Peter Matthews said, "To begin with, everyone in the club offers his or her heartfelt condolences to the family of Syd, who assisted him so much during his sickness. As a club, we will assist them in any manner possible. Syd was a great Gloucestershire man, in and out of the field. Being a player, he was among our all time greatest fast bowlers, and earned himself Test Caps with us. He remained very busy with the club on his retirement, and was a friendly and an active President. He will be hugely missed."
Neil Priscott, Chief Executive Officer of the Club said: "All who are affiliated with the Gloucestershire County Cricket Club will be devastated by the news of the passing of Syd and we offer all our love to his amazing family and friends. Everyone at Gloucestershire Cricket, of course, knew about his excellent record as a one-county man, but we all had the good fortune to know, and to love, him as our present President. His main interest was the strength of cricket and the ways our sport can change people. Syd made us reach communities far and wide, and we will do so in his honour." (ANI)
Reference taken from ANI News: Former England cricketer David Lawrence dies at 61
