Miles Lawrence
Encyclopedia
John Miles Lawrence, born at Rothwell, West Yorkshire
on 7 November 1940 and died at Toulston, Tadcaster
, Yorkshire
on 16 April 1989, played first-class cricket
for Somerset
in 18 matches between 1959 and 1961.
The son of former Somerset all-rounder Johnny Lawrence
and like him a right-handed middle-order batsman and a leg-spin bowler, Miles Lawrence made 33 in his debut innings as an 18-year-old for Somerset late in the 1959 season. In the next match, he did even better: he took 45 minutes to score his first run but then made 35 and shared a 118-run sixth-wicket partnership with his captain, Maurice Tremlett
before finishing off a victory for Somerset with three of the last four Nottinghamshire
wickets. Those bowling figures of three for 44 were to remain his best, however.
In 1960, he played five games without bettering his personal batting or bowling bests. But in 1961, he was given an extended run in the Somerset side, playing in 10 of the first 12 first-class matches. He was used almost entirely as a batsman, bowling just seven overs and failing to take a wicket. In 18 innings, two of them not out, he made only 199 runs at an average of 12.43. This included his highest score of 41, made against Middlesex
at Taunton. He left Somerset at the end of the season, and did not play first-class cricket again.
Miles Lawrence returned to Yorkshire where he was associated with his father's indoor cricket schools business and coached at Leeds Grammar School
. In Yorkshire league cricket, he became a wicketkeeper. He died just four months after his father, aged 48.
Rothwell, West Yorkshire
Rothwell is a market town on the River Dolphin in the south east of the City of Leeds metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, situated between Oulton to the east, Belle Isle to the west, Woodlesford to the north east and Robin Hood to the south west. Swillington, Methley and Kippax are located...
on 7 November 1940 and died at Toulston, Tadcaster
Tadcaster
Tadcaster is a market town and civil parish in the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England. Lying on the Great North Road approximately east of Leeds and west of York. It is the last town on the River Wharfe before it joins the River Ouse about downstream...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
on 16 April 1989, played first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
for Somerset
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...
in 18 matches between 1959 and 1961.
The son of former Somerset all-rounder Johnny Lawrence
Johnny Lawrence
John Lawrence, known as "Johnny", was a diminutive Yorkshire-born all-round cricketer whose middle or lower order batting and leg-break and googly bowling were of great importance to Somerset in the 10 cricket seasons immediately after the Second World War.-Early career and playing style:Born at...
and like him a right-handed middle-order batsman and a leg-spin bowler, Miles Lawrence made 33 in his debut innings as an 18-year-old for Somerset late in the 1959 season. In the next match, he did even better: he took 45 minutes to score his first run but then made 35 and shared a 118-run sixth-wicket partnership with his captain, Maurice Tremlett
Maurice Tremlett
Maurice Fletcher Tremlett was an English cricketer, who played for Somerset, Central Districts and England....
before finishing off a victory for Somerset with three of the last four Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Nottinghamshire, and the current county champions. Its limited overs team is called the Nottinghamshire Outlaws...
wickets. Those bowling figures of three for 44 were to remain his best, however.
In 1960, he played five games without bettering his personal batting or bowling bests. But in 1961, he was given an extended run in the Somerset side, playing in 10 of the first 12 first-class matches. He was used almost entirely as a batsman, bowling just seven overs and failing to take a wicket. In 18 innings, two of them not out, he made only 199 runs at an average of 12.43. This included his highest score of 41, made against Middlesex
Middlesex County Cricket Club
Middlesex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the...
at Taunton. He left Somerset at the end of the season, and did not play first-class cricket again.
Miles Lawrence returned to Yorkshire where he was associated with his father's indoor cricket schools business and coached at Leeds Grammar School
Leeds Grammar School
Leeds Grammar School was an independent school in Leeds established in 1552. In August 2005 it merged with Leeds Girls' High School to form The Grammar School at Leeds. The two schools physically united in September 2008....
. In Yorkshire league cricket, he became a wicketkeeper. He died just four months after his father, aged 48.