(Source X)
England batter Dan Lawrence has earned his chance to return to Test cricket following Zak Crawley’s withdrawal from the series against Sri Lanka due to a fracture in his right little finger.
Dan Lawrence, who last played a Test more than two years ago against the West Indies, has been a regular in the squad but had to wait for his opportunity due to the success and stability of England’s batting lineup.
Now, at 27, Lawrence has the chance to showcase his skills at the highest level. However, he faces a challenging task as he will be opening the batting against Sri Lanka, a role he has not frequently occupied in his career, having mostly batted in the middle order.
Dan Lawrence speaks candidly about his comeback to Test cricket.
At a press conference, Dan Lawrence discussed his eagerly anticipated return to England’s Test team. Acknowledging his two-year absence from the squad, he expressed gratitude to the team management for giving him this chance.
“I can’t wait, obviously. I’ve been on the sidelines for a couple of years now, which has been frustrating at times. But all the batters have been in great order for two years. So, very thankful to get my opportunity and I can’t wait to get going,” Lawrence said.
Lawrence has yet to open the batting in Test cricket and typically plays in the middle order, even in County cricket. However, for the upcoming series, the right-hander has been assigned the opening position.
Dan Lawrence on his new batting spot
When questioned about his new batting role, Lawrence stated that he plans to bring his naturally aggressive style to the position. He also noted that opening the batting should not be significantly different from playing at No. 3 or No. 4.
“I think it’s kind of the style of cricket that Baz (Brendon McCullum) and Stokesy (Ben Stokes) are generally after. My general way of going about it is trying to be quite aggressive. I think I fit the role more in that aspect,” Lawrence stated.
“I did actually start my first-class career as an opener and then I gradually kind of moved up and down as I’ve gone along. I am only focusing on trying to really enjoy the week and it (opening the innings) shouldn’t be too much different from batting at three or four,” he added.
