William Laidlaw

Who was William Laidlaw?

William Kennedy Laidlaw was a Scottish cricketer. Laidlaw was a right-handed batsman who bowled leg break googly. He was born in Edinburgh, Midlothian and was educated at Melville College.

Laidlaw made his first-class debut for Scotland against Yorkshire in 1938. His debut was an overwhelming success, with Laidlaw taking 7 wickets in the Yorkshire first-innings for the cost of 70 runs. He played first-class cricket for Scotland either side of World War II, making a total of 15 appearances, with his final match coming against Ireland in 1953 in Belfast. A bowler, Laidlaw took 40 wickets at an average of 26.62, with two five wicket hauls, although he never managed to better the figures he took against Yorkshire in 1938. His other five wicket haul came against Ireland in 1949.

His performances for Scotland caught the eye of Durham, then a minor county. He made his debut for Durham in the 1948 Minor Counties Championship against Northumberland, with Laidlaw making a total of 26 appearances for the count between 1948 and 1952. In 1950, he played his final two first-class matches when representing the Minor Counties against the Marylebone Cricket Club and the touring West Indians.