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India and England players are wearing black armbands on Day 3 of the first Test match to pay their respect to former England speedster David Valentine Lawrence who has passed away at the age of 61 after battling Motor Neurone Disease (MND). He made his international debut in 1988 and represented the Three Lions in 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 also picked up Viv Richards' wicket.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took to their 'X', formerly known as Twitter to reveal that both India and England were wearing black armbands to pay their respects to former England Cricketer, David Valentine Lawrence.
"Both teams are wearing black armbands to pay their respects to former England Cricketer, David 'Syd' Lawrence, who has sadly passed away" posted BCCI.
David 'Syd' Lawrence's international career was tragically cut short in 1992 by a horrific knee injury sustained during a Test match in Wellington, New Zealand. In 2023, He was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, a life-shortening neurological disorder which causes muscle weakness that gets worse over a few months or years.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dave Lawrence MBE following his brave battle with Motor Neurone Disease. '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 statement from Lawrence family shared by Gloucestershire read.
Lawrence made his first-class debut in 1981 for Gloucestershire at just 17. He played 170 first-class matches for Gloucestershire, taking 477 wickets at 31.27, including a best of 7 for 47 against Warwickshire. Lawrence played 110 matches in one-day cricket, where he picked up 148 wickets with a standout 6 for 20 against a Combined Universities XI in 1991 - the third best return in Gloucestershire's 50-over history.
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