London: Former England and Gloucestershire fast bowler David Syd Lawrence has passed away at the age of 61. Lawrence, who was the first British-born black cricketer to represent England, had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) last year.

According to BBC, Lawrence was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King’s Birthday Honours earlier this month in recognition of his efforts in raising money and awareness for MND. He made his Test debut against Sri Lanka at Lord’s in 1988, taking three wickets. Known for his extreme pace, Lawrence returned to the England team in 1991 and took 14 wickets across three Tests, also playing his only one-day international that summer.

Lawrence’s cricket career was cut short by a serious knee injury during a Test match against New Zealand in the subsequent winter. He attempted a brief comeback in 1997, playing four County Championship matches, but did not return to top-level cricket. Post-retirement, Lawrence ventured into nightclub ownership and amateur bodybuilding before being named Gloucestershire’s club president in 2022, a role he continued even after his MND diagnosis.

Lawrence was inspired by former England rugby league player Rob Burrow, who succumbed to the illness last year. He engaged with Burrow’s friend and former teammate Kevin Sinfield for support after his diagnosis. Lawrence’s dedication to raising awareness for MND was evident when Gloucestershire’s players and supporters wore pink during a Pink4Syd day at a T20 match on Friday.

In his autobiography, “In Syd’s Voice – The Extraordinary Life of Syd Lawrence,” he shared the highs of his cricket career and personal life. Lawrence is survived by his wife, Gaynor, and son, Buster. His family expressed pride in his courage and selflessness, stating, “A proud Gloucestershire man, Syd took on every challenge with everything he could and his final contest with MND was no different.”