The Walter Lawrence Trophy was instigated in 1934. It is awarded at the end of each English cricket season to the batsman who scores the fastest century from the fewest balls received, (excluding wides). Centuries scored in The Hundred, Vitality Blast (20-over format), Metro Bank One Day Cup (50-over format) and the Rothesay County Championship, all qualify as well as Test Matches, One-Day International matches and International T20 matches played in England. There is a panel of adjudicators to ensure that each potential award-winning century is made against authentic bowling.

In 1996 it was decided to exclude University games from the Trophy itself. With the establishment of the MCC University Centres of Excellence, it was decided to introduce an award for the highest score by a University batsman in the MCC Universities matches played against each other or the first-class Counties, this also includes the Varsity match.

In 2011 the trustees of the Walter Lawrence Trophy launched a new award for the highest schools’ scorer against MCC, and in 2012 added a Women’s award, for the batter who makes the highest individual score in a season from The Hundred, Vitality Blast (20-over format), Metro Bank One Day Cup (50-over format), and all England Women’s matches played on home soil.