GLOUCESTER, England — 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.

It was revealed almost exactly a year ago that Lawrence, who took 18 wickets in five Tests for England between 1988 and 1992, was the latest sportsperson to be diagnosed with motor neurone disease. The announcement was in the same month ex-England and Leeds rugby league great Rob Burrow died after a long battle with the incurable illness,