Former England bowler David Lawrence dies aged 61 after MND battle
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David ‘Syd’ Lawrence: Trailblazing England bowler dies after MND battle
- David 'Syd' Lawrence, the first British-born Black cricketer to play for England, has died at the age of 61 after a battle with motor neurone disease.
- Lawrence took 18 wickets in five Tests for England and was a formidable fast bowler for Gloucestershire, where he claimed 625 wickets in 280 matches.
- His playing career was prematurely ended at 28 by a severe knee injury sustained during a Test match in 1992.
- After retiring, Lawrence became a competitive bodybuilder and nightclub owner, and later served as Gloucestershire County Cricket Club's first black president.
- He was recently awarded an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours for his services to Cricket and had published his autobiography, 'In Syd's Voice', this month.