D-day for new kids on block

LAWRENCE: TIME TO DELIVER

DAN LAWRENCE believes the time has come for England’s young batting starlets to post some serious numbers at the Ashes – or face the axe.

Joe Root has been putting his faith in the next generation over the past two years in a bid to head to Australia with a line-up of big century-makers.

But skipper Root (six) and Rory Burns (one) are the only men to have scored Test hundreds in 2021.

Lawrence, Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope are now being backed to deliver after enjoying a significant taste of Test cricket with limited success.

“I definitely think there is massive potential,” said Lawrence, 24. “Rooty has been our standout and there were some brilliant performances from Rory in the summer.

“But if we all looked at ourselves we know we didn’t perform as well as we would have liked. Zak’s one of the most talented I’ve seen, Popey, Burns, Haseeb Hameed, there are so many.

“And yet it does get to a stage where we just need to score runs because that is your currency.

“It is getting to the point where being inexperienced is not an excuse that we can keep on using. We have to score runs and if we do that we will stay in the team.”

Lawrence may be frustrated with his eight-cap career but there have been glimpses of what he is capable of.

And heading to Australia, where he had a fine Lions tour last year, fills him with hope of what he might be able to produce. “So far it has been very frustrating,” he said. “I’ve had good performances like Sri Lanka on debut and in India in tough conditions but it has been a bit too few and far between.

“I have got confidence, having played a few Tests now, that I am more than good enough to succeed but I’d like to be more consistent.

“The Lions tour had quite a big impact. I was desperate to get my name out there and score runs every week – thankfully I did.

“It’s different to the Ashes but it is nice to have something in the bank.” ●Lawrence was speaking at the LV= Insurance “In With Heart” Tour, showcasing recipients of #Funds4Runs grants, a £1million joint initiative between the ECB and LV= Insurance to support grassroots cricket. Visit lv.com/gi/

cricket

CHRIS GREAVES was the hero as Scotland got their T20 World Cup campaign off to a dream start with a six-run victory over highly-fancied Bangladesh in Muscat. Greaves, in his second T20 for the Scots, hit 45 out of their total of 140-9 before taking two wickets with his leg spin as Bangladesh made 134-7. PUSH ON: Lawrence says young stars must score more Test runs