Gray Laurie Image 1 Middlesex 1937

Description

Tottenham, London born right-arm fast-medium bowler Laurie Gary was that comparative rarity, a Middlesex cricketer with a birth qualification. After making his debut for the County in 1934, playing only a few matches in 1934 and 1935, he began to make his mark as a fast bowler in 1936, when he and Jim Smith bowled out Nottinghamshire at Lord’s in the second innings for 41, his own share being 4-26.

From then until 1949 he was a regular and valuable member of a side which depended largely on slow spin, the other quick bowlers being Jim Smith (until the Second World War), Bill Edrich and Gubby Allen, when available. It was a glorious period in the County’s history: in those eight seasons they won the Championship twice, were second five times and third once. To this impressive record Gray made a considerable contribution, though after doing much good work in 1937 and 1938 his form fell off in 1939 before the interruption to his career caused by the War when he might reasonably have expected to be in his prime.

In 1946 he took 95 wickets for Middlesex at 19.06 and in all matches, for the only time, exceeded 100 wickets, and that season he took 11-34 against Hampshire at Lord’s, he appeared for the Players at Lord’s and in a Test trial.while in 1947 his record for the County was 92 at 22.46. He continued to bowl with some success for two more years, but, losing his regular place in 1950, played his last match in 1951. An arthritic hip shortened his career.

In 219 first class matches he took 637 wickets for 25.14 apiece with 3 ten wicket matches and 26 five wicket innings, and a career best return of 8-59. A batting average for his career of 7.38, with a highest score of 35 not out, suggests no great ability with the willow, but he played at least one memorable innings. Against Essex at Lord’s in 1939 he helped Denis Compton to put on 83 in three-quarters of an hour for the last wicket, his own share being 1 not out. To Compton he later owed a great debt. As the senior of the two, Compton was due for his benefit in 1948, but waived his claim in Gray’s favour. Gray’s benefit raised over £6,000, a sum which had then only once been exceeded.

He then turned to umpiring, standing in the England v South Africa test at Lord’s in 1955 and the England v West Indies match at Birmingham in 1963.

Vintage Cricketers was founded in July 2019. There are more photographs of this cricketer in the Vintage Cricketers library, which are due to be loaded in due course. In the meantime, please send a message to us using the contact form at the bottom left of this page and we can arrange to prepare and publish all images of this cricketer if you have a particular interest in him.