Mark Lawrence (cricketer)

Mark Philip Lawrence (6 May 1962 – 21 August 2010) was an English first-class cricketer.

Lawrence was born at Warrington in May 1962. He was educated at Manchester Grammar School,[1] before going up to Merton College, Oxford.[2] While studying at Oxford, he played first-class cricket for Oxford University, making his debut against Hampshire in 1982. He played first-class cricket for Oxford until 1935, making eleven appearances.[3] Playing as a slow left-arm orthodox bowler, Lawrence took 42 wickets at an expensive average of 70.92 and best figures of 3 for 79.[4] Describing himself as "the least bad slow left-armer at Oxford",[1] he holds the record for the highest bowling average in first-class cricket (for a minimum of 5,000 balls bowled).[5]

After obtaining his doctorate in chemistry, Lawrence worked for venture captain firm 3i so that he could invest in technological ventures. He later worked as a consultant to City law firms such as Linklaters, before setting up a business to invest in low carbon startup companies. Moving to West Sussex, he coached cricket at Ardingly College, where among those he coached included the future Sussex cricketer Abidine Sakande.[2] He was chairman of Lindfield Cricket Club,[1] in addition to serving as a local Magistrate.[2] Lawrence died from a brain hemmorage at Lindfield on 10 August 2010.[1] The Mark Lawrence Science Bursary was set up at Ardingly College in his memory.[2]