Dan Lawrence falls for 65 again at Edgbaston

Dan Lawrence was out for 65 in England's first innings of the third Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston, bowled off his own bat as he tried to run a Mohammad Imran delivery down past point and instead dragged it on to his stumps.

The stump microphone picked up his reaction, a strangled groan somewhere between pain and disbelief, and for a moment he looked ready to drive the bat into the turf. Another chance at a maiden Test century had gone.

Lawrence has now played 17 Tests since his first call-up in 2021, shuffled through the order at No.7, 6, 5, 4 and 3, plus a brief and unsuccessful run as an emergency opener. He made 73 on debut on a turning pitch in Galle in 2021 and was unbeaten on 81 against New Zealand at Edgbaston that same summer. The following March, in Barbados, he fell in the last over of the day, caught off an easy chance to cover with a century in sight.

The Edgbaston Test finds Pakistan under interim head coach Mike Hesson, brought in after seven players were axed following the defeat at Lord's. England, for their part, are without Brydon Carse, left out of the squad while police and the Cricket Regulator continue to investigate an assault allegation against him.

Another score in the sixties without conversion may keep the question of Lawrence's number three spot open, even as the innings itself adds to a growing body of evidence that he belongs at this level.