Godfrey Lawrence

Godfrey Bernard "Goofy" Lawrence (31 March 1932 – 12 March 2025) was a Rhodesian cricketer who played in five Test matches for South Africa in the 1961–62 season.^[1]

Godfrey Lawrence

Personal information
Full name	Godfrey Bernard Lawrence
Born	(1932-03-31)31 March 1932 Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia
Died	12 March 2025(2025-03-12) (aged 92) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Nickname	Goofy
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm fast-medium
International information
National side	South Africa
Test debut	8 December 1961 v New Zealand
Last Test	16 February 1962 v New Zealand
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1952/53–1965/66	Rhodesia
1966/67	Natal B
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class Matches 5 77 Runs scored 141 1,079 Batting average 17.62 12.69 100s/50s 0/0 0/1 Top score 43 60* Balls bowled 1,334 18,244 Wickets 28 342 Bowling average 18.28 17.97 5 wickets in innings 2 15 10 wickets in match 0 1 Best bowling 8/53 8/42 Catches/stumpings 2/– 54/–
Source: Cricinfo, 3 December 2020

A tall right-arm fast-medium bowler from Rhodesia, Lawrence was part of a new-look South African team for the series against New Zealand in 1961–62. Despite his success in the series and continued good form in the Currie Cup until the end of the 1965–66 season, he played no further Tests.^[1]

He took 8 for 53 in the Second Test in 1961–62.^[2] His best first-class bowling figures were 8 for 42 (after taking 3 for 56 and making 32 not out at number 10 in the first innings) for Rhodesia against Western Province in 1965–66.^[3] He played for Rhodesia from 1952–53 to 1965–66, then two matches for Natal B in 1966–67.

Lawrence later moved to Australia. His son Stephen was a leading Australian rules footballer in the 1990s.^[4]

Lawrence died in Brisbane on 12 March 2025, at the age of 92.^[5] Before his death he was the oldest living South African Test cricketer.^[6]