In the first Test of the India vs England series, players from both sides were seen wearing black armbands on day 3 in order to honor the former England Test cricketer David 'Syd' Lawrence, aged 61, who passed away following a battle with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
Earlier, on Day 1, the players were seen observing a minute silence and wearing black armbands for the victims of the disastrous plane crash that happened a week before at Ahmedabad.
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Who is David 'Syd' Lawrence?
David 'Syd' Lawrence rose to prominence in county cricket, becoming a well-known figure through his performances for Gloucestershire. He made his first-class debut in 1981 at just 17 years old and went on to feature in 170 matches. Over the course of his career, he claimed 477 wickets at an average of 31.27, with his standout performance being 7 for 47 against Warwickshire. In limited-overs cricket, Lawrence played 110 games and picked up 148 wickets, including a career-best 6 for 20 against a Combined Universities XI in 1991.
Lawrence earned his England Test cap in 1988 and appeared in five matches for the national side. He took 18 wickets in total, which included a notable five-wicket haul against the West Indies. That spell featured the prized dismissal of batting legend Viv Richards. Unfortunately, his international career was cut short after he suffered a serious knee injury in 1992.
In 2023, Lawrence was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, a progressive neurological condition that leads to muscle weakness and loss of mobility.
Ind vs Eng first Test summary
England staged a strong comeback after centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant had put India in control. On Day 2, Ben Stokes and Josh Tongue claimed four wickets each, triggering a collapse as India slipped from 430 for 3 to 471 all out.
In response, England batted with positive intent, scoring freely in the early stages. Jasprit Bumrah stood out with the ball, taking three wickets, but lacked consistent support from the other bowlers. Ollie Pope led the charge with a well-compiled century, helping England settle into a commanding position. At the latest update, England were 238 for 4, trailing India by 233 runs. Pope, who was the first wicket to fall on Day 3, was dismissed by Prasidh Krishna
