DAN THE ‘UNUSUAL’ MAN FOR ENGLAND
Essex batsman given chance in Sri Lanka as Pope and Burns sit out two-Test series
Dan LaWrence will bring what he calls his ‘ unique’ batting style to the test arena when he makes his england debut against Sri Lanka next month.
the exciting essex batsman looks sure to be plunged into the middle order in the first test in Galle on January 14 in an england line-up shorn of rory Burns and ollie Pope, and with Jos Buttler certain to keep the gloves. that means the unorthodox Lawrence, capable of outrageous shots in white-ball cricket, will cut short his stay in the Big Bash with Brisbane Heat and join the recalled Jonny Bairstow in a revamped batting line-up on the two-test tour.
‘Dan is an unusual player but he’s got real quality,’ said national selector ed Smith when he named a 16-man squad plus seven reserves for the first test assignment of the winter. ‘He has his own style, he’s inventive and has real presence at the crease. this is a great opportunity.’
Lawrence, 23, has long been marked out as a special prospect — not least by his former coach at essex, chris Silverwood. But it was only after he made adjustments to his technique ahead of a prolific Lions tour last winter that he began to justify the hype.
now, still with a wristy extravagance through the leg-side but without a trigger movement and staying more still at the crease, he can make his mark at no 5 with england missing Pope through injury and Burns to attend the birth of his first child.
england are confident a stricter Sri Lankan ‘bubble’ will ensure there are none of the problems that forced the abandonment of their one-day series in South africa — and they have taken steps to nurse their top players through the rigours of a covid world.
that means Jofra archer and Ben Stokes, whose father Ged died this week, are rested and other multi-format players will follow, with Ben Foakes set to take over as keeper from Buttler midway through the four-test series in India that follows.
Meanwhile, Hampshire bowler chris Wood has been given a two- month suspended ban following an investigation by the ecB’s anti-corruption Unit
Wood admitted to charges relating to a total of nine bets that he placed on cricket matches in 2011 and 2016.
these actions breached the anti-corruption code though were not on matches that he played in. Wood accepted responsibility and fully co- operated with the investigation.