DAN LAWRENCE was enjoying some well-earned time off during a busy winter when news of his Test recall arrived.
“I was on holiday in Cape Town with my missus over Christmas,” he explains. “I got a call from Baz [McCullum] and he said, ‘ You’re coming to New Zealand’. It was a great day and a little bit of a surprise, but a very welcome surprise.”
Lawrence had not been involved under the new England regime, led by head coach McCullum and skipper Ben Stokes, last featuring a year ago on the West Indies tour that marked the end of Joe Root’s captaincy.
There, he had come close to a first Test hundred during what, on a personal level, was an encouraging series. But a lack of runs early in the county season, some untimely hamstring trouble and the change in leadership looked to have seen the Essex batter slip off the radar.
“I was disappointed not to be involved in the summer,” he says. “But I could understand which way they went and it’s fine.
“I always believed there was going to be an opportunity at some stage. Cricket has a way of giving you an opportunity when you don’t expect it sometimes.”
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 22, 2023-Ausgabe von Evening Standard.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 22, 2023-Ausgabe von Evening Standard.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Why are England wasting time waiting for Tuchel?
Winning the World Cup is the aim, so the new boss should start now
He's been shot, and punched by Mike Tyson, but British boxing's great survivor is back on top and aiming to rule the world
This is where the magic happens,\" reads a big neon sign scrawled across the entrance to the offices of arguably the most powerful man in British boxing today.
How Sketch went from 'obscene' to era-defining
After arocky start, the glamorous and infamous restaurant is now an institution
Money is worth less than time'
He's quit Fendi, but what will Kim Jones do next?
London's Roman Amphitheatre
Guildhall Yard, EC2V
Liberals didn't notice they'd lost relevance in the all-consuming digital sphere
There are many reasons why Donald Trump might have won the election last week.
Do we have to die?
One neuroscientist thinks the answer is no
How to have a magical Christmas in Edinburgh
From cosy cobblestone streets to abundant Yuletide goings-on, few cities rival the Scottish capital in creating Christmas whimsy.
London's best festive restaurants
The social season is upon us once more. These are the city’s most coveted Christmas venues, which need to be booked soon so as to not miss out on the tinsel and tipples.
Rag'n'Bone Man
I struggle with being recognised... I'll never really feel comfortable with it'