Born in
Leeds, Yorkshire, Lawson was educated at Castle Hall College. He was selected for the North of England Under 14/15 and he made his Second XI debut for Yorkshire in 2003. He made his first-class debut against
Somerset at
North Marine Road Ground, Scarborough in July 2004. He toured Australia with the England Under 19 team, played against South Africa in 2003, and was a member of the squad for the Under 19 World Cup in
Bangladesh in February 2004. He is given specialised coaching by
Terry Jenner as part of the
ECB's Elite Wrist Spin Programme. He played in two Tests and four one-day games on the Under 19 tour to
India in 2005, and in an Under 19
one day international against
Sri Lanka in England the following summer. When not on first-class duties he played for
Barnsley Cricket Club in the
Yorkshire ECB County Premier League. In July 2008, he moved to Middlesex on a short-term loan for one month, to help with their intensive match schedule whilst their bowlers recover from injury. Yorkshire announced his release towards the end of the 2008 season, and he was subsequently registered by Derbyshire with the opportunity to earn a full-time contract. He moved to Kent in 2010, but first team opportunities proved elusive and he was released. Formally Head coach at Pro Coach, Headingley, Mark is now Director of Cricket at ML Cricket Academy, Leeds. ==References==