England batsman Dan Lawrence has been brought in as a replacement for young batsman Harry Brook, who has withdrawn from the five Test India series from January 25. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced via X (formerly Twitter) that Lawrence will join the team within the next 24 hours. “Dan Lawrence from Surrey will join the England men's Test squad within the next 24 hours. #INDvENG,” ECB said in a tweet. England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Sunday that star batsman Harry Brook will miss the India Test tour due to personal reasons.
Surrey's Dan Lawrence will join the England men's Test squad in the next 24 hours.
🇮🇳 #INDvENGpic.twitter.com/DepT9duRnZ
— English cricket (@englandcricket) January 21, 2024
ECB released a statement to announce Brook's absence, saying: “Harry Brook will return home from England's Men's Test tour of India with immediate effect for personal reasons. He will not return to India. The England selectors will confirm a replacement player for the tour in due course.”
Brook has been a crucial figure for the Three Lions as since his Test debut in September 2022, no one has made as many appearances for England as Brook, with a total of 45. He has played a crucial role as one of the faces of the England squad. 'Bazball' approach to Test cricket, which has yielded good results so far with its attacking, results-oriented and positive nature.
In 12 Tests, Brook has scored 1,181 runs at an average of 62.15, with four centuries and seven fifties. His best score is 186.
Lawrence, 26, last played a Test for England in March 2022. In 11 Tests he scored 551 runs at an average of 29.00, with four half-centuries in 21 innings. His best score is 91.
This time, Ben Stokes will lead a new-looking England Test team for the series. The first Test of the series will be played in Hyderabad from January 25, while the fifth and final Test will be held in Dharamshala and the series will conclude on March 11.
Debutants Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir were both part of the England Lions squad that trained in the United Arab Emirates last month. They were joined in the UAE by vice-captain Ollie Pope and Jack Leach to step up their preparations as they returned to Test duty after injury.
Leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed returns to the Test squad after claiming a five-wicket haul on his Test debut in Pakistan last December.
The absences of Chris Woakes, Liam Dawson and Will Jacks are significant. In India, James Anderson will lead the pace attack, with uncapped Gus Atkinson promoted from the limited-overs squad. The other pacers in the team are Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson.
Meanwhile, wicketkeeper Ben Foakes was called up after being left out of the Ashes squad earlier this year. Jonny Bairstow is the team's other wicketkeeper. Ollie Pope and Leach are also back from injury.
England Test squad: Ben Stokes (c), Rehan Ahmed, James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Shoaib Bashir, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root and Mark Hout .
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