Zak Crawley is expected to miss all of England’s Test series against Sri Lanka and may struggle to be fit for the Pakistan tour following surgery on a broken finger.
Crawley injured his finger while dropping a catch during England’s Test victory over the West Indies at Edgbaston last week. He was immediately ruled out of the Hundred competition and is now likely to miss the three Tests against Sri Lanka starting on August 21.
With Crawley sidelined, Dan Lawrence is poised to make his first Test appearance since March 2022. Though Lawrence typically plays in the middle order in the County Championship, he is now expected to open the batting.
Lawrence’s aggressive batting style aligns well with the approach favoured by captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum. Despite his talent, the emergence of Harry Brook and the stability of England’s top six have kept Lawrence out of the Test side. The series against Sri Lanka offers him a chance to re-establish himself.
Keaton Jennings of Lancashire, who last played a Test in 2019, is another potential candidate for the opener position. However, Lawrence, being five years younger at 27, is currently the preferred choice. Stokes and McCullum have emphasised a player’s talent and potential over their specific county roles, as demonstrated when Ollie Pope was picked at number three despite never having played there in the County Championship.
Lawrence's style makes him a fitting replacement for Crawley, who has featured in every Test since Stokes took over as captain. Crawley’s average of 35.56 and strike rate of 75 under Stokes have set an aggressive tone for the team. Lawrence, who transferred from Essex to Surrey over the winter, has been in excellent form, averaging 53.09 this season with a top score of 175 against Worcestershire in June. Additionally, his off-spin bowling, which has yielded 15 wickets at an average of 36.66, adds to his value.
Lawrence’s off-spin might be particularly beneficial for the upcoming three-Test series in Pakistan starting October 7. During England’s last tour of Pakistan in 2022, Will Jacks played a significant role with his off-spin.
Crawley now faces a race against time to recover for the Pakistan series. Broken fingers generally require six to eight weeks to heal. Although the Pakistan series begins in nine weeks, any setbacks in Crawley’s recovery could jeopardise his availability for the start of the series.