Harry Brook's Replacement Dan Lawrence To Play ILT20 Before IND vs ENG Rajkot Test
Dan Lawrence [X.com]
Dan Lawrence is the only England touring Test player allowed to travel to Abu Dhabi with a training kit ahead of the third Test in Rajkot against India, starting February 15.
The backup middle-order batter, who was appointed replacement for Harry Brook, will be playing for the Desert Vipers in the International League T20 (ILT20) amid the India assignment.
Even as head coach Brendon McCullum explained the idea behind touring Abu Dhabi for a relaxation break after two high-intense Tests in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam.
With the series levelled 1-1, Lawrence became the only player of the lot permitted to take on cricketing commitments in the five-day holiday, as he will turn out on February 9 and 11 in Vipers' last two league games.
Dan Lawrence To Play ILT20 Amid Break Ahead Of Rajkot Test
Lawrence, who had joined the squad after Brook's sudden leave for personal reasons, didn't play in the first two Tests and is unlikely to be required in an established England playing XI in Rajkot unless there are injuries.
Hence, the player was permitted to take on Dubai Capitals and Sharjah Warriors before rejoining the Test contingent in India.
"It will be pretty relaxed," McCullum said about the break as per The Telegraph.
"There will not be a whole lot of training. The boys have worked incredibly hard in Abu Dhabi keeping in mind they all came here with a lot of cricket under their belt as well. We have had plenty of training days, two varying Test matches and this is an opportunity to step away from the heat of the battle," he added.
McCullum revealed he had a conversation with his Indian counterpart, Rahul Dravid, who also permitted his players to head back home before resuming training for the Rajkot Test.
"I was talking to Rahul Dravid and he mentioned all his boys are shooting home as well. We sit 1-1 which is a fair reflection that we’re in the contest. We’ve played some really good cricket over the last two Test matches."
"Yes, we have come out on the wrong side of it here but we got it across the line in the first one. The conviction about how we go about it as strong as it ever has been."
"It is not good losing but we walk away saying we gave it a good crack in this Test match and India are deserved victors," he added.
Both the teams have shown their best and worst over the last two Tests, as reflected in the levelled scoreline, and will be eyeing an edge in the third Test after rejuvenating over the coming week.
 "Kashish Chadha")
