Graham Lake (cricketer)

Graham Johnson Lake (13 April 1935 – 15 February 2023)[1] was an English scientist known for his contributions to understanding rubber's fatigue limit,[2] and a former professional English cricketer.

Graham Lake
Born(1935-04-13)13 April 1935
Croydon, Surrey, England
Died15 February 2023(2023-02-15) (aged 87)
NationalityBritish
Alma materUniversity of London
Known forRubber fatigue
Awards
Scientific career
FieldsPolymer science
InstitutionsBRPRA
Graham Lake
Cricket information
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm fast-medium
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1956–1958Gloucestershire
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 13
Runs scored 106
Batting average 7.57
100s/50s 0/0
Top score 18
Balls bowled 1,017
Wickets 17
Bowling average 27.29
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 4/39
Catches/stumpings 6/–
Source: Cricinfo, 1 August 2011

Scientific career

Lake began his scientific career as a research assistant in 1958 at the British Rubber Producer's Research Association.[3] During his employment at BRPRA, he attended evening classes at the University of London, achieving a B.Sc. in Physics in 1962, and a Ph.D. in 1967. He undertook fundamental studies of the fatigue properties of elastomers, and established the principle that fatigue cracks develop from pre-existing features of rubber's microstructure, in accordance with the expectations of Fracture Mechanics.[4] Together with doctoral student Oon Hock Yeoh he also studied the mechanics of cutting of rubber with a blade, thereby establishing the principle that rubber's intrinsic strength and fatigue limit are the same and that they can be measured via cutting experiments.[5]

Lake received the 1995 Colwyn Medal.[6] In 2003, he received the Charles Goodyear Medal in recognition of the significance of his contributions to rubber science.

A symposium was organized in 2003 to honor the 50th anniversary of the development of Fracture Mechanics for rubber, and the symposium title was chosen as 'Fracture Mechanics and Elastomers: 50 not out', in reference to Lake's past career as a professional cricketer.[7]

Cricket

Lake was a right-arm fast-medium bowler and right-handed tail-end batsman.

Lake made his first-class debut for Gloucestershire against Sussex in the 1956 County Championship. He made 12 further first-class appearances, the last of which came against Oxford University in 1958.[8] In his 13 first-class matches, he scored 106 runs at an average of 7.57, with a high score of 18.[9] With the ball, he took 17 wickets at a bowling average of 27.29, with best figures of 4/39.[10]

References
  1. "Graham Lake - 1935-2023". Gloucestershire CCC. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  2. Lake, G. J.; Thomas, A. G. (1967). "The strength of highly elastic materials". Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A. Mathematical and Physical Sciences. 300 (1460): 108–119. doi:10.1098/rspa.1967.0160.
  3. Gent, Alan. "Graham Lake - Goodyear Medalist 2003 - Biography". Rubber Chemistry and Technology. 76 (3): G2. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  4. Lake, Graham J. (2003). "Fracture mechanics and its application to failure in rubber articles". Rubber Chemistry and Technology. 76 (3): 567–591. doi:10.5254/1.3547761.
  5. Lake, G. J.; Yeoh, O. H. (1978). "Measurement of rubber cutting resistance in the absence of friction". International Journal of Fracture. 14 (5): 509–526. doi:10.1007/BF01390472. S2CID 136856301. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  6. "Colwyn Medal award winners". iom3. IOM3. Archived from the original on 26 September 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  7. "'Fracture Mechanics and Elastomers seminar: 50 not out'". RubberConsultants.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  8. "First-Class Matches played by Graham Lake". CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  9. "First-class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Graham Lake". CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  10. "First-class Bowling For Each Team by Graham Lake". CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
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