Walter Lawrence Trophy Explained
The Walter Lawrence Trophy is an annual award made to the player who has scored the fastest century in English domestic county cricket that season, in terms of balls received (not counting wides).[1] Hundreds are considered by a panel of experts which, as of 2020, comprise Michael Atherton, David Gower, Simon Hughes and John Barclay.[2] Those which are adjudged to have been made against declaration bowling are not eligible for the award, although this restriction was not always observed in former years.[1], the recipient of the Walter Lawrence Trophy is also presented with a cheque for £2,500.[3]
The trophy was instituted in 1934 by Sir Walter Lawrence, a builder and cricket enthusiast from Hertfordshire, the first recipient being Frank Woolley. At this stage in its history, the criterion was the time taken to score a hundred rather than the number of balls faced. The award was made every season up to and including 1939 when Lawrence died. When first class cricket resumed in 1945 after the Second World War, Lawrence's son Guy left the presentation of the Trophy in abeyance. It was finally re-instated by Guy's son-in-law, Brian Thornton for the 1966 season. The recipient was then the player who had scored the fastest England Test century in terms of balls faced, at home or away, in the calendar year.[1] The 1970 award was made to Geoffrey Boycott for "the most meritorious innings of the England v The Rest of the World series", but in 1971 the original version of the award was restored. Since 1985, the trophy has been decided in terms of balls faced rather than minutes spent at the crease.[1]
University games were eligible for the trophy until 1995 and from 2001 to 2003.[1] Until 2007, only first-class centuries could qualify for the award, but eligibility was widened in 2008 to include limited overs cricket. Graham Napier became the first man to win the trophy under these new conditions by scoring a 44-ball hundred in a Twenty20 match. Matches involving individual university sides (i.e. University Centre of Cricketing Excellence matches and the Varsity Match) are excluded, although games involving the combined British Universities team are eligible.[1] Three other variants of the Walter Lawrence Trophy are also awarded annually: Walter Lawrence Women's Award, Walter Lawrence MCC Universities Award and Walter Lawrence Schools Award.[1]
Four batsmen have won the main award on more than one occasion, twice each: Ian Botham, Graham Lloyd, Leslie Ames and Viv Richards.[1] Kent have the most winners (8) followed by Somerset (6).[1] The winner of the main award for the 2021 English cricket season is England batter Liam Livingstone, who struck 100 in 42 balls against Pakistan in the first T20 international match.
Winners
Notes and References
- Web site: The Trophy . Walter Lawrence Trophy . 29 June 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160706070120/http://www.walterlawrencetrophy.com/?page_id=2 . 6 July 2016 .
- Web site: Adjudicators . Walter Lawrence Trophy . 29 June 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160706065952/http://www.walterlawrencetrophy.com/?page_id=13 . 6 July 2016 .
- Web site: Presentations . Walter Lawrence Trophy . 2 September 2017 . 10 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170810171032/http://www.walterlawrencetrophy.com/?page_id=54 . live .
- Web site: Hall of Fame . Walter Lawrence Trophy . 29 June 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160706032704/http://www.walterlawrencetrophy.com/?page_id=10 . 6 July 2016 .
- Web site: Walter Lawrence Trophy . ESPNcricinfo . 29 June 2017 . 3 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170903040832/http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/story/260595.html . live .
- Book: All in a Day's Cricket: An Anthology of Outstanding Cricket Writing . Brian . Levison . Christopher . Martin-Jenkins . 108 . Constable . 20 September 2012 . 978-1472117199 . 1 October 2020 . 18 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210518143757/https://books.google.com/books?id=mneeBAAAQBAJ&pg=PT108 . live .
- Web site: Willey takes Lawrence award for summer's quickest ton . . 28 September 2015 . 29 June 2017 . 3 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170903031839/http://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/willey-takes-lawrence-award-for-summer-s-quickest-ton-1-6980167 . live .
- Web site: Triple figures double quick . The Cricket Monthly . 29 June 2017 . Scott . Oliver . June 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170630233546/http://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/1096099/triple-figures--double-quick . 30 June 2017 .
- Web site: A brief history – Kent Country Cricket Club . . 29 June 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160320054751/http://new.kent-ccc.co.uk/the-club/history . 20 March 2016 .
- Web site: Gordon Greenidge...Man in the middle. 22 May 2010. Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. 29 June 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151211080611/http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/features/life/2010/05/23/gordon-greenidgeman-middle. 11 December 2015.
- Book: Boycott, Geoffrey . Geoffrey Boycott
. The Best XI . 129 . Geoffrey Boycott . 28 May 2009 . 978-0141037219 . Penguin . 1 October 2020 . 18 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210518143756/https://books.google.com/books?id=X-udPSECUI8C&pg=PT129 . live .
- Web site: Vivian Richards – Batting machine . https://web.archive.org/web/20170802110718/http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/features/life/2010/04/10/vivian-richards-batting-machine . dead . 2 August 2017 . 11 April 2010 . . 29 June 2017 .
- Web site: Gilchrist wins Walter Lawrence Trophy . 29 June 2017 . 7 October 2010 . . 11 October 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171011082803/https://www.lords.org/news/2010/oct-2010/gilchrist-wins-walter-lawrence-trophy/ . live .
- Web site: Cambridge MCCU vs Nottinghamshire: Statistical Preview . Trent Bridge . 29 June 2017 . 4 April 2016 . Dave . Bracegirdle . 2 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170802110719/https://www.trentbridge.co.uk/news/2016/april/cambridge-mccu-vs-nottinghamshire-statistical-preview.html . live .
- Web site: Archive – Tuesday, 21 September 1999 . . 29 June 2017 . 2 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170802110719/http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/archive/1999/09/21/Lancashire%2BArchive/6109144.SOCCER__LAL_Round_Up/ . live .
- Book: Wisden on Yorkshire: An Anthology. Duncan Hamilton. 29 June 2017. 146. 978-1408124628. John Wisden & Co Ltd. 25 March 2011. 18 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518143757/https://books.google.com/books?id=CMSkAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA146. live.
- Web site: Fleming wins the Walter Lawrence Trophy and £5000 . ESPNcricinfo . 29 June 2017 . 23 September 2002 . 3 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170903034810/http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/123499.html . live .
- Web site: Olonga will ply trade at higher pitch . The Daily Telegraph. London . 29 June 2017 . 2 October 2003 . Charles . Randall . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160229062209/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2422483/Olonga-will-ply-trade-at-higher-pitch.html . 29 February 2016 .
- Web site: Tale of a summer when England were kings . 20 September 2004 . 29 June 2017 . The Daily Telegraph. London . Derek . Pringle . Derek Pringle . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160301102623/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/derekpringle/2387478/Tale-of-a-summer-when-England-were-kings.html . 1 March 2016 .
- Web site: Blackwell smashes fastest hundred of 2005 . ESPNcricinfo . 29 June 2017 . 24 September 2005 . 11 October 2017 . https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20171011082147/http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/220166.html . live .
- Web site: Napier wins Walter Lawrence Trophy . 29 September 2008 . ESPNcricinfo . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160314222655/http://www.espncricinfo.com/countycricket2008/content/story/371682.html . 14 March 2016 .
- Web site: O'Brien wins Walter Lawrence Trophy . https://web.archive.org/web/20170802110718/https://www.lords.org/obrien-wins-walter-lawrence-trophy/ . dead . 2 August 2017 . 19 October 2011 . . 29 June 2017 .
- Web site: Scott Styris hits equal third-fastest T20 ton as Sussex beat Gloucestershire . 24 July 2012 . 12 November 2012 . BBC Sport . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20121107023842/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/18975216 . 7 November 2012 .
- Web site: Knight among Walter Lawrence Trophy winners . 8 October 2013 . . 29 June 2017 . 2 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170802110718/https://www.lords.org/news/2013/october/knight-among-walter-lawrence-trophy-winners/ . live .
- Book: The Shorter Wisden 2015: The Best Writing from Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 2015 . 9 April 2015 . Lawrence Booth . John Wisden & Co Ltd . 978-1472913562 . 1 October 2020 . 18 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210518143835/https://books.google.com/books?id=V317BwAAQBAJ&pg=PT439 . live .
- Web site: Tom Kohler-Cadmore's proud parents collect Walter Lawrence Trophy on his behalf . Redditch & Alcester Advertiser . Geoff . Berkeley . 11 November 2016 . 29 June 2017 . 2 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170802110718/http://www.redditchadvertiser.co.uk/sport/wccc/14881921.Kohler_Cadmore_s_proud_parents_collect_Walter_Lawrence_Trophy_on_his_behalf/ . live .
- Web site: The Walter Lawrence Trophy . The Walter Lawrence Trophy . 13 April 2022 . 9 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200809084124/http://www.walterlawrencetrophy.com/?page_id=7 . live .