Ex-England Pacer David Lawrence Passes Away At 61 After Motor Neurone Disease Battle

Former England and Gloucestershire pacer David ‘Syd’ Lawrence passed away at the age of 61 after a year-long battle with motor neurone disease (MND), the player’s family announced on Sunday. The bowler, a leading figure on and off the pitch for English cricket, had represented the Three Lions in five Test and one ODI match since making his debut in 1988.

Players wore a black armbands during the third day of the India vs England, 1st Test at Headingley to pay tribute to Lawrence, and there was a minute of applause in his memory. England Cricket Board chair Richard Thompson termed Lawrence as “a true trailblazer of English cricket and a man of immense courage, character, and compassion.”

What Is MND, Which Took Away David Lawrence?

In 2024, Syd Lawrence was diagnosed with MND, a progressive neurological condition that affects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. The disease causes muscles to weaken, stiffen and waste over time, and currently has no cure.

Despite the physical toll of such an illness, Lawrence continued his campaigning and activism initiatives. He raised funds for the disease’s awareness with the ‘Pink 4 Syd’ evening hosted by Gloucestershire during the 2024 Vitality Blast, in support of the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

His autobiography, ‘In Syd’s Voice’, was published last week, and he was also awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the King’s Birthday Honours this year for services to cricket and to diversity in sport.

Lawrence was also named an Honorary Life Vice-President of the ECB in 2025, having previously become the first black president of Gloucestershire.

David Lawrence’s International Career

Even though he was a trailblazer in England’s cricketing circle, Lawrence had a relatively short international cricket career, playing just five red-ball matches for the Three Lions and one ODI against the West Indies in 1991.

He had made his international debut in 1988, becoming the first British-born black player to represent his national side in Test cricket. Despite his short career, he finished with 18 wickets, including a career-best figure of 5/106 against the West Indies at The Oval.

However, a horrific knee injury he suffered while bowling at Wellington during England’s 1992 tour of New Zealand brought a premature end to his Three Lions career. He briefly returned to play four matches for Gloucestershire in 1997, but the fractured kneecap meant that his cricketing days were over.

Despite this, Lawrence continued to battle for equality and diversity in cricket, even speaking against the racism he faced during his playing career in 2021.