Dan Lawrence Struggles as Opportunities to Shine in Cricket Dwindle

Performance Overview

Both Dan Lawrence and Ben Duckett walked off before their respective catches had been taken. A swift look to the ball sailing harmlessly in the air towards the cordon. Eye rolls so exaggerated you could almost hear the optic nerve strain through the stump mics, before sharp turns and sorry marches back to the Pavilion. Synchronised annoyance, albeit hours apart.

Crowd Reactions

The reactions from a short-changed crowd at the Kia Oval could not have been more different. Raucous cheers for Duckett, who rewarded their patience with an 86 that felt like an attempt to speed run a Test century. Soul-cringing gasps and groans for Lawrence, tangled in his own limbs attempting to work to square leg, followed by sympathetic applause that made his torturous 5 off 21 feel a little worse.

Current Struggles

• Hard to empathise with Lawrence's struggles over the last two weeks.
• A promising pair of thirties in the first Test have led to three single-figure scores.
• Judgment on his worth in an unfamiliar role draws close scrutiny.

Comparative Analysis

The last England opener to go five or more innings without passing 50 once was the now-discarded Alex Lees against South Africa in 2022. By contrast, Duckett has maintained his streak of fifties in every Bazball series he has played. Comparing the two is foolish, as one is the most consistent Test opener in the world now, and the other isn't an opener outright.

The Challenge Ahead

When both players were greeted by low, dank skies and floodlights at 11 am, it was no surprise that Duckett, who has made an international career out of this caper, was far better equipped to deal with a new ball and lavish movement than Lawrence, who is filling in for Zak Crawley.

Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes have recognized Lawrence's capacity as a reserve opener before finally pulling the cord for this series, knowing he has never truly been one professionally. The body of work as a dynamo in the engine room of a batting line-up has brought him to this point.

Looking Forward

Like any moonlighter out of their comfort zone, there have been times when it looks like Lawrence has been trying to imitate an opener. For instance, he took 11 balls to get off the mark, with a scampered two tucked into midwicket exhibiting little conviction.

Meanwhile, Duckett was in his element. After a quiet start, his back-to-back charge-and-slaps to close out Milan Rathnayake's first over took the score to 45, which is how the opening stand would finish. Duckett had 36 of them - off 35 deliveries, no less.