Sky Sports Cricket’s Nasser Hussain says he would have drafted in Surrey’s Dan Lawrence for England’s second Test against New Zealand at The Oval.
Lawrence made 318 across two innings for Surrey as his side drew with Hampshire in a rain-stricken County Championship match at The Oval.
Lawrence, who made the last of his 14 Test appearances as an opener against Sri Lanka in September 2024, notched 101 off 64 balls, including five sixes and seven fours.
That sensational performance followed his first-innings 218 from 190 balls and strengthened his already strong England credentials. His heroics could only lead Surrey to a draw in a game that saw 92 overs lost to bad weather.
The batter is averaging 78 in the County Championship and is the leading run scorer in Division One, leading former England captain Hussain to call for his inclusion in the international setup on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.
“I’d have gone Dan Lawrence and not just on the back of two hundreds there this week,” he said.
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“We did a County Championship game earlier in the season, albeit on a flat pitch. He looked like he was getting in some really good positions, having a little bit of a slow start to the season, actually a couple of loose shots.
“Since then he’s been outstanding, and bowls a bit of off-spin – that’s the role Dan Lawrence does at Surrey at The Oval.
“He’s batting back where he should be batting in the middle order anywhere from four to seven, I personally would have gone with Dan Lawrence.
“I would’ve said that before this championship game too, especially at The Oval.”
Lawrence made 319 over two innings for Surrey in the County Championship
Former England opener Dom Sibley (105no) also got in on the act with a century of his own as Surrey set Hampshire a fourth-innings target of 348, but the visitors were happy to bat for a draw, with opener Ali Orr finishing on 53no as the hands were shaken with 20 overs left unbowled on day four.
England vs New Zealand – results and schedule
All times UK and Ireland, all games live on Sky Sports
First Test (Lord’s) – England won by 115 runsSecond Test (The Kia Oval) – June 17-21 (11am)Third Test (Trent Bridge) – June 25-29 (11am)
Hear more from Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain on the latest Sky Sports Cricket podcast, where the two former England captains joined Ian Ward to reflect on a dramatic few days for England’s Test side. Get Sky Sports or stream golf with no contract.
