Tributes Paid to David 'Syd' Lawrence During India vs England Test Match

Honoring a Cricket Legend

During the third day of the first Test match between India and England, players from both teams donned black armbands to pay tribute to the late David 'Syd' Lawrence, a former England Test cricketer who passed away at the age of 61 after battling Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

A Moment of Silence

On the opening day of the match, players observed a minute of silence and wore black armbands in remembrance of the victims of a tragic plane crash that occurred a week earlier in Ahmedabad.

Who Was David 'Syd' Lawrence?

David 'Syd' Lawrence gained recognition in county cricket, particularly for his contributions to Gloucestershire. He made his first-class debut at the young age of 17 in 1981 and participated in 170 matches throughout his career, taking 477 wickets at an average of 31.27. His most notable performance was a remarkable 7 for 47 against Warwickshire. In limited-overs cricket, he played 110 matches, securing 148 wickets, with a career-best of 6 for 20 against a Combined Universities XI in 1991.

Lawrence earned his England Test cap in 1988, featuring in five matches and taking 18 wickets, including a memorable five-wicket haul against the West Indies, which included the legendary Viv Richards. Sadly, his international career was abruptly halted due to a severe knee injury in 1992.

In 2023, Lawrence was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, a progressive condition that causes muscle weakness and mobility loss.

Summary of the First Test Match

In the ongoing Test, England mounted a strong comeback after centuries from Indian players Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant had initially put India in a dominant position. On Day 2, Ben Stokes and Josh Tongue each took four wickets, leading to a dramatic collapse as India fell from 430 for 3 to 471 all out.

England responded with aggressive batting, scoring quickly in the early overs. Jasprit Bumrah was the standout bowler for India, claiming three wickets, but did not receive consistent backing from his teammates. Ollie Pope played a pivotal role, scoring a well-crafted century and helping England establish a strong position. As of the latest update, England was at 238 for 4, trailing India by 233 runs, with Pope being the first wicket to fall on Day 3, dismissed by Prasidh Krishna.