Dan Lawrence has earned a recall to the England squad for the first two Tests against Pakistan, signaling a significant personal and technical evolution. The 29-year-old's return to the international stage comes after a period of intense focus on his game, which has yielded prolific runs in county cricket.
Lawrence's last stint in the England Test side concluded nearly two years ago. He averaged 20 runs during a series against Sri Lanka, a performance that suggested he had struggled to adapt to the aggressive 'Bazball' approach. Since then, his response has been marked by a resurgence in county cricket, scoring 922 runs at an average of 54 in 2025 and 788 runs at 65 so far in 2026 for Surrey. He leads Division One in centuries this season with five and has hit 16 sixes, maintaining a strike rate of 80.
New national selector Marcus North stated that Lawrence is "a better player than when he last played for England." This sentiment is echoed by Surrey's director of cricket, Alec Stewart, who noted that Lawrence's recent batting displays are more authentic to his natural style. Stewart suggested that Lawrence's previous approach for England may have been an attempt to conform to perceived expectations rather than his own game.
"He’s reverted back to, being more – I hate using the word – correct," Stewart said. "He can still play shots that make you go 'wow!', but he’s stood still, his head’s up, and he’s moved accordingly. He was leg-side dominant, but his game has evolved."
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Lawrence is expected to bat at number six for the first Test at Headingley on August 19. While his place in the squad is secured, his participation for the entire series is not guaranteed, with selectors considering tactical adjustments for the Edgbaston Test, potentially bringing in all-rounder Sam Curran if the pitch favors spin.
Stewart believes number six is the ideal position for Lawrence to establish his natural rhythm at the Test level. Lawrence has batted in various positions from two to seven in his previous 27 Test innings, a career that has yielded 671 runs at an average of under 27. This record, according to sources close to the player, does not fully reflect his potential.
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Throughout his career, Lawrence has had notable performances, including a debut 73 against Sri Lanka and an unbeaten 81 against New Zealand. His contributions in the Caribbean in early 2022 were also recognized by captain Joe Root and coach Ben Stokes. Selectors reportedly view these moments as more representative of his true capabilities than his more aggressive, and ultimately unsuccessful, outing at the top of the order previously.
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"He’s earned this selection," Stewart added. "They’ve seen how he’s gone about his batting against some good attacks in tricky conditions. I keep saying to him: 'Just go and play like Dan Lawrence. That’s why you’ve been selected. Just replicate that. Don’t think you have to play another way.'" The selectors hope this will allow Lawrence to move past his previous struggles and perform to his potential.
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