Tribute to David 'Syd' Lawrence as England and India Clash in Test Match
Players Honor David 'Syd' Lawrence
On Day 3 of the first Test match in the five-match series at Headingley, Leeds, players from England and Team India took to the field wearing black armbands on June 22. This gesture was made in memory of former England fast bowler David 'Syd' Lawrence, who passed away earlier that day at the age of 61 after a prolonged battle with motor neurone disease (MND).
As the match resumed, England began their first innings at 209/3, with Ollie Pope and Harry Brook at the crease, scoring 100 and 0, respectively. The previous day saw Team India’s Jasprit Bumrah take three crucial wickets, dismissing Zak Crawley (4), Ben Duckett (62), and Joe Root (28), finishing with figures of 3/48 in 13 overs.
The hosts began their innings after bowling out India for 471, which was a significant drop from 430/4, following centuries from captain Shubman Gill (147) and vice-captain Rishabh Pant (134).
David 'Syd' Lawrence's Legacy
The black armbands worn by both teams were a tribute to David 'Syd' Lawrence, who was recognized as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) earlier this month for his efforts in raising awareness and funds for MND, the disease that ultimately led to his passing.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared on their social media, stating, 'Both teams are wearing black armbands to pay their respects to former England Cricketer, David 'Syd' Lawrence, who has sadly passed away.'
A moment of applause was observed before the start of play on Day 3, reflecting the deep respect held for Lawrence. The England Cricket Board expressed their sorrow, stating, 'Everyone at the ECB is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of David 'Syd' Lawrence MBE. Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.'
Lawrence made history as the first black player to represent England in international cricket, participating in five Test matches and taking 18 wickets at an average of 37.55. In domestic cricket, he played for Gloucestershire, where he took 497 wickets over a 16-year career.
India Aims to Regain Control
As the match progressed, Team India sought to regain momentum after struggling to apply pressure on the English batsmen, with the exception of Bumrah. The visitors aimed to limit England's lead on a pitch that provided some assistance to seamers.
Ollie Pope and Harry Brook were building a promising partnership until Prasidh Krishna dismissed Pope for 106 off 137 balls, marking a significant breakthrough for India at 225/4. Following Pope's exit, England captain Ben Stokes joined Brook at the crease.
Brook adopted an aggressive batting style, hitting a four and a six off Krishna in the morning session. At the time of this report, England's score stood at 271/4 after 64 overs, with Brook and Stokes contributing 36 and 20 runs, respectively.