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

32 club (usually) or other wanderers have amply staffed the books of so many counties over the years including the present and to a lesser extent have had a world-wide impact and presence. Johnny Lawrence was very much part of this tradition and I hope to demonstrate the sheer extent to which he helps to promote the careers of such a multitude of players whose talents have been utilised locally or exported beyond the county. In the Headingley nets of the 1930s Johnny would get to know and befriend all those great Yorkshire players of the period, including Len Hutton, Maurice Leyland and Hedley Verity – as well as former player Wilfrid Rhodes too. He seems to have commanded their respect as much as it was the other way round. Starting to make his way up the cricketing ladder