Lives in Cricket No 52 - Schooled in Cricket (2nd edition)

110 Herbert Sutcliffe wrote to the beneficiary: Dear Johnny I am so sorry the weather ruined so completely your benefit match and I hope the Somerset members will see to it that you are suitably rewarded for your splendid services to the county club. Herewith my cheque for five guineas. Best wishes Yours sincerely Against Leicestershire at the end of June, a press cutting describes how Charles Palmer the Leicester captain thought he had declared in time to bowl out Somerset and win the match but hadn’t allowed for Messrs Lawrence and Stephenson. For the last 30 minutes, “with eight fielders on the bat end, they survived everything.” Lawrence who had been out of form prior to that in 1954 had stayed two hours for 63. This was a successful season for Johnny Lawrence personally. Also in 1954 we begin to see the introduction of new players into the side including Johnny’s prodigy A teenage Jack Birkenshaw joins the Lawrence family holidaying at Cheddar Gorge, in 1954. A first class career with Somerset