00:00It's a sad day for the cricketing world as former England and Gloucestershire passer
00:04David Sid Lawrence has passed away at the age of 61.
00:09He had been fighting a courageous battle against motor neurone disease for the past years.
00:15Even in his toughest days, David Lawrence remained an inspiring figure both on and off
00:19the field.
00:20Sid Lawrence was not just any fastballer who could rattle batters with pace and aggression.
00:26He represented England in five test matches and one ODI between 1988 and 1992.
00:33His international debut came at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground against Sri Lanka.
00:38At the domestic level, David Lawrence has a legend at Gloucestershire.
00:42He played 280 matches for the county and grabbed 625 wickets, becoming a key figure in their
00:49bowling line-up for over a decade.
00:51In 1988, he became the first black cricketer born in Britain to play test cricket for England,
00:57a significant milestone in the history of the English cricket.
01:01David Lawrence's promising career came to an end, heartbreaking held in 1992.
01:07During a test match in Wellington, New Zealand, he suffered a horrific knee injury, a fractured
01:12kneecap while running into ball, which virtually ended his professional career.
01:17Although he tried to return five years later and played a handful of games, he never quite
01:22made a full comeback.
01:23David Lawrence featured in five test matches for England between 1988 and 1992.
01:29With the ball, he delivered 1,089 balls across 10 innings, claiming 18 wickets at an average
01:35of 37.55.
01:38His best bowling figures were 5 for 106 and he recorded 1,5 wicket hall with a strike rate
01:43of 60.50 at an economy rate of 3.72.
01:48As a lower-order bestman, he scored a total of 60 runs, averaging 10 with a highest score
01:53of 34.
01:54In One Day International, David Lawrence made a single ODA appearance in 1991.
02:00In that match, he bowled 66 deliveries, took 4 wickets for 67 runs, averaging 16.75 at an
02:06economy rate of 6.09 with a strike rate of 16.50.
02:11He did not bat in that game.
02:13Across an extensive career spanning 185 first-class matches, from 1981 to 1997, David Lawrence delivered
02:21a total of 26,930 balls, recording 515 wickets at an average of 32.07.
02:29His best-inning figures were 7 for 47, and he achieved 21 5 wicket hauls and 1 10 wicket
02:36match.
02:37His bowling strike rate was 52.29 with an economy rate of 3.68.
02:42With the bat, he amassed 1,851 runs, averaging 10.69 with a top score of 66, including two half-centuries.
02:51In 113 Leicester matches, David Lawrence bowled 5,362 balls, taking 155 wickets at an average
02:59of 26.43.
03:01He had 9 4 wicket hauls and 4 5 wicket hauls, with the best figure of 6 for 20.
03:07His strike rate was 34.59, and he maintained an economy rate of 4.58.
03:13With the bat, he scored 292 runs, averaging just 10.81, and his highest score in one day cricket
03:20was 38 not out.
03:22These figures highlight David Lawrence as a genuine fast-balling force in domestic and
03:27international cricket.
03:28A player known for raw pace, match-winning spells, including a test fifer, and a solid contribution
03:34in shorter formats.
03:35Post-retirement, David Lawrence never faded away.
03:38He became a nightclub owner, a competitive bodybuilder, and most importantly, a voice for
03:43inclusions and diversity in cricket.
03:46In 2021, he spoke bravely about the racism he faced at Gloucestershire, a moment that led
03:51to the club's issuing a public apology.
03:54He also worked with the A.C.E. African-Caribbean Engagement Program in Bristol to bring more opportunities
04:01to young players from diverse backgrounds.
04:03In 2022, David Lawrence made history again by becoming Gloucestershire's first black president.
04:10Even after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2024, a cruel condition that slowly
04:15damages the nerve system, he did not back down.
04:19Instead, he became even more active in raising awareness and funds for the Motor Neurone Disease
04:25Association.
04:26One of the most touching tributes to him came through the Pink for Sid event held at Gloucestershire's
04:31home ground during a Vitality Blast game against Hampshire Hawks.
04:35The team wore pink kids to raise money for M&DA.
04:39Just last week, his autobiography in Sid's voice was released, co-written with cricket writer
04:45Dean Wilson.
04:46Earlier this month, David Lawrence was awarded an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours and earlier
04:52this year, he was also made an honorary life vice president of the ECB, fitting honours for
04:58a man who gave so much to the sports and community.
05:02In an emotional statement, his family said, Sid was an inspirational figure on and off the
05:07field.
05:08He faced every challenge with courage, especially his final fight with M&D.
05:13His love for Gloucestershire and game of cricket never faded.
05:16Neil Prescott, CEO of the Gloucestershire Cricket, shared, Sid was not just a legend for our club.
05:23As president, he pushed us to connect with communities far and wide.
05:27His energy and love for cricket were unmatched.
05:29Friday night's tribute was just a glimpse of how much he means to us.
05:34David Lawrence was a strong and fiery fastballer who had just started to settle into England
05:39test team when tragedy struck.
05:41It happened during a test match in Wellington, New Zealand, on the final day of the match
05:46that had no chance of a result.
05:48As he ran into ball, Sid suddenly collapsed in pain.
05:51He had fractured his left kneecap in the delivery stride.
05:55The fall was so bad that his cries of pain echoed across the stadium, and those watching
06:00live said the sound of his knee breaking was as loud as a con shot.
06:06That awful moment ended his test career immediately.
06:09His first-class career was also nearly over, although he did make a brief attempt to return
06:15for Gloucestershire in 1997, but the magic was never quite the same.
06:20Despite the abrupt end to his career, David Lawrence was also known as a fan-favorite and
06:26a player who gave it everything on the field.
06:28He bowled with serious pace, but sometimes that raw speed came with a lack of control.
06:34In 1991, he had started to improve his accuracy and was becoming a more complete fastballer.
06:41Had it not been for that terrible injury, there's no doubt Sid would have played many more tests
06:46for England.
06:47He had the heart, the pace and the presence, everything you want in a true fastballer.
06:52Sid Lawrence was more than a fastballer, he was a trailblazer, a leader and a fighter.
06:58His legacy goes beyond cricket, it lives in every life he touched and every barrier he
07:03broke.
07:04David Sid Lawrence might have played just five test matches, but his impact was as big as
07:10any century-maker or long-serving cricketer.
07:13He was quick with the ball, bold in spirit and always stood tall for what he believed in.
07:18Cricket has lost a champion, but Sid's legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.
07:24Sid Barnes will always be remembered as a fighter, a legend and a true game-changer.
07:29David Lawrence will be remembered not just for his fiery pace and unforgettable spells,
07:34but for his courage, resilience and impact beyond the boundary.
07:38His legacy will continue to inspire generations in cricket and beyond.
07:48His legacy will continue to inspire generations to find more people who find Aah!
07:55His legacy will return to the legacy of the world to find more people who are up to
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