Former England fast bowler Lawrence dies aged 61

David “Syd” Lawrence,” a fast bowler for England and Gloucestershire, passed away at the age of 61.

The first black cricket player to play for England in the country was Lawrence, who was born in the UK last year.

He was raised money and raised awareness of the condition and was later named MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours.

In his 16-year Gloucestershire career, Lawrence took 625 wickets in 280 games and played in five Test matches for England.

In his 1988 Test debut against Sri Lanka at Lord’s, Lawrence added three wickets.

Before returning to England in 1991, Lawrence took 14 wickets in three Tests and played his only one-day international that summer, a bowler who could reach extreme pace.

However, a serious knee injury that occurred during England’s winter game against New Zealand severely curbed his career.

Before being elected Gloucestershire’s club president in 2022, he later owned a nightclub and competed in amateur bodybuilding.

He remained in the position after receiving his MND diagnosis last year, and he has actively fought for those who suffer from the disease.

Lawrence claimed in an interview with BBC Breakfast that he had spoken with former England and Leeds rugby league player Rob Burrow after his own diagnosis and that he had been inspired by his own experience with the illness, which came to an end earlier this year.

When Gloucestershire won the T20 Blast last year, James Bracey presented the trophy to Lawrence in emotional scenes.

During a “Pink4Syd” day on Friday during a T20, Gloucestershire’s players and supporters donned pink.

In Syd’s Voice: The Extraordinary Life of Syd Lawrence, Lawrence’s autobiography, discusses the highlights of his career and special events and life memories.

He divorces his son Buster and his wife Gaynor.

His family said Syd, a proud Gloucestershire man, “a braved man who struggled with every challenge and every opportunity, and his most recent victory against MND was no exception.”