THE world of cricket is mourning Gloucestershire’s president David ‘Syd’ Lawrence, who died at the age of 61 after battling Motor Neurone Disease.
Fast bowler Syd, who made his debut for the club at the age of 17 and earned numerous county and international honours in a 16-year career, was awarded an MBE this summer.
After his death on June 22, his family said in a statement: “‘Syd’ was an inspirational figure on and off the cricket field and no more so than to his family who were with him when he passed.
“A proud Gloucestershire man, Syd took on every challenge with everything he could and his final contest with MND was no different. His willingness to encourage and think of others right up to the end was typical of the man he was.
“As President of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, Syd took on the role with incredible pride and passion and loved every minute of it.”
Syd and his wife Gaynor and son Buster raised funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA). Efforts culminated in Pink 4 Syd, a special evening where the club honoured Syd with a pink kit.
Born in Gloucester on 28 January 1964, David Valentine Lawrence delivered countless memorable performances, forming a formidable new-ball partnership with West Indies great Courtney Walsh.
He played 170 first-class matches for Gloucestershire, taking 477 wickets at 31.27, including a best of 7 for 47 against Warwickshire.
In one-day cricket, he claimed 148 wickets in 110 appearances, with a standout 6 for 20 against a Combined Universities XI in 1991 – the third best return in Gloucestershire’s 50-over history.
In 1990, Lawrence took a memorable hat-trick against Nottinghamshire in a fiery spell that saw him finish with 5 for 51.
His county success earned him England honours. In 1988, he became the first British-born black man to play Test cricket for England, making his debut at Lord’s against Sri Lanka. He played five Tests between 1988 and 1992, taking 18 wickets, including a famous five-wicket-haul against the West Indies at The Oval in 1991 – in the same innings he dismissed the great Viv Richards.
He also made one ODI appearance, recording remarkable figures of 4 for 67, which remain the best bowling figures by a player who only played one One Day International.
A knee injury in 1992 ended his international career prematurely, but Syd’s life off the field was just as remarkable. He went on to become a nightclub owner, a competitive bodybuilder, and a leading advocate for inclusion and diversity in cricket.
But his connection to Gloucestershire never faded.
In 2022, he was appointed as the first black President in the history of Gloucestershire Cricket – a title he held until the day of his death.
In collaboration with cricket writer Dean Wilson, Syd published his autobiography, ‘In Syd’s Voice’, using assistive technology to dictate his story.