Charles Lawrence

Charles Lawrence played twice for Surrey and once for Middlesex - in between many matches as a professional in Scotland and Ireland - and while in Dublin he was Secretary of the United All Ireland XI, which body he formed. In 1861-62 went to Australia with HH Stephenson's XI and settled in Sydney at the end of it, accepting an engagement as a professional with the Albert Club. He played five times for New South Wales, and in 1863-64 took 4 for 42 and 6 for 48 for a XXII of NSW against an England XI. In 1868 he coached, managed and played for the successful Aboriginal side that toured England. For many seasons - to the end of 1898 - he was coach to Melbourne CC. For 24 years was in the service of the New South Wales Government, retiring at the age of 63 through ill-health. Lawrence was an excellent judge of the game and keen on it to the last. He once played a single-wicket match against a Bendigo man, who had 11 to field. Each man made 0 and 0, but, the Bendigo man bowling a wide, Lawrence won by one run.
Martin Williamson