Former Somerset player Laurie Hawkins dies at 96

The former Somerset allrounder Laurie Hawkins has died at his home in Cornwall. He was 96, and the second-oldest county cricketer at the time of his death.

Laurence Cyril Hawkins played 46 matches for Somerset as an amateur between 1928 and 1937, scoring 1252 runs at an average of 17.15, with a highest score of 96, and taking 22 wickets with his legbreaks at 48.50.

The only county player older than Hawkins who is known still to be alive is Frank Shipston, the former Nottinghamshire batsman, who was 97 in July.