Laurie Gray

Laurence Herbert Gray, died at Langdon Hills, Essex, after a long illness, on January 3, 1983, aged 67. Born at Tottenham, he was that comparative rarity, a Middlesex cricketer with a birth qualification. After 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 four for 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 war), Edrich and G. O. 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 he fell off sadly in 1939. At this period he was apt to lose his length and bowl short, faults which were less evident after the war. In 1946 he took for Middlesex 95 wickets at 19.06 and in all matches, for the only time, exceeded 100 wickets, 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 a regular place in 1950, played his last match in 1951. An arthritic hip shortened his career. In 1946, when he took eleven for 34 against Hampshire at Lord's, he appeared for the Players at Lord's and in a Test trial. It will be seen that the war robbed him of six seasons when he might reasonably have expected to be in his prime. Even so it may be doubted whether he would ever have been more than a good county bowler. He had not quite the physique or the speed to attain greatness. In all first-class matches he took 637 wickets for 25.14. A batting average for his career of 7.38, with a highest score of 35 not out, suggests no great ability in that line, 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, low though it may seem by modern standards, had then only once been exceeded. From 1953 to 1970 Gray was a first-class umpire, standing in four Test matches.
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack