England's Dan Lawrence: A Fresh Start at the Top, But Will It Stick?

Dan Lawrence has a history of batting anywhere from No. 3 to No. 7 in his 11 Test appearances. But for the first Test against Sri Lanka, he'll be opening the innings, replacing the injured Zak Crawley. Despite his usual position lower down the order, Lawrence is embracing the opportunity, having spent years waiting for a chance to make his mark.

"I was just waiting for an opportunity," said Lawrence, who has been a regular in the England squad since 2021, primarily as a backup and a net bowler. "Wherever that was, in the order, I was going to snap their hands off for it."

The recent appointment as captain of the London Spirit in the Hundred has clearly given Lawrence a professional level of composure. After a disappointing tour of the West Indies in 2022, he is clearly keen to make the most of his return to the Test fold, particularly under the "Bazball" regime that has transformed England's approach to the game.

His willingness to embrace the unconventional is reminiscent of the current England team's fearless brand of cricket. Lawrence has a reputation for attacking strokeplay and a gritty determination, making him a natural fit for the current environment.

It's not just his attitude that has impressed. Lawrence has been working hard to develop his all-round game, turning himself into a spin-bowling all-rounder. He has even honed his skills in this role during a stint with the Desert Vipers in the ILT20 earlier this year.

His previous stint with the England team was a mixed bag. While he showcased flashes of brilliance, he was inconsistent and lacked the certainty of his game. This time around, he is determined to use the experience gained to create a new chapter in his Test career.

"I think in my first stint, I showed glimpses of what I can do. I was certainly fairly inconsistent," he admitted. "But I think that all came with being quite young. I wasn't completely sure of my game at that time. I'm treating this as a bit of a fresh start."

However, opening the batting is a new challenge for Lawrence, who has only opened in 7 out of 203 red-ball innings. There are concerns about whether he's suited to the role, particularly against a Sri Lankan bowling attack that thrives in overcast conditions, which are expected in Manchester.

Some, including former England captain Michael Vaughan, have expressed reservations about the selection. But Lawrence, characteristically, is unfazed by the criticism and is determined to make the most of the opportunity.

"I got asked to open the batting, and I'm definitely going to say yes," he said. "Obviously people are going to have their opinions, but I'm obviously chuffed to get the opportunity."

With a new-look England team under captain Ollie Pope, Lawrence is eager to soak up the experience and contribute to the team's success.

"The best thing about this environment is allowing players - or new players - to go out there and be as free as possible," he said. "Watching all the boys go out there and debut and take five-fors and score loads of runs, it's quite evident that boys are going out there and just relaxing and having a good time. And that's what I'm going to try and do."

The first Test against Sri Lanka represents a pivotal moment for Lawrence. He has a chance to establish himself as a valuable asset to the current England team and prove that he can handle the pressure of opening the batting in Test cricket.

Vithushan Ehantharajah is an associate editor at ESPNcricinfo.