GLOUCESTER, England (AP) — David ‘Syd’ Lawrence, the first British-born Black cricketer to play for England, has died. He was 61. Lawrence’s family made the announcement on Sunday with a statement through Gloucestershire, where Lawrence was the club president. He announced a year ago he had motor neurone disease.

David ‘Syd’ Lawrence, the pioneering cricketer who became the first British-born Black player to represent England, has died at the age of 61.

Friends and colleagues have spoken of their "devastation" following the death of former cricketer David "Syd" Lawrence MBE. Lawrence, the first British-born black cricketer to represent England, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2024.