Dan Lawrence to feature in ILT20 amid India series

England batter Dan Lawrence is slated to play for Desert Vipers in the ILT20 during the ten-day break in the middle of the five-match Test series against India. He replaced Harry Brook in the squad, who backed out of the tour, citing personal reasons. Lawrence didn’t play a part in the first two matches and the team management has permitted him to take part in the ongoing T20 tournament.

Meanwhile, after suffering a 106-run defeat in the second Test in Visakhapatnam, England have travelled to Abu Dhabi to get away from the ‘heat of the rivalry’. Head coach Brendon McCullum has confirmed that the team won’t be practising as the players haven’t carried their kitbags with them. Some gym sessions and fielding drills might take place but nothing is scheduled as of now.

“It will be pretty relaxed. There will not be a whole lot of training. The boys have worked incredibly hard in Abu Dhabi keeping in mind they all came here with a lot of cricket under their belt as well. We have had plenty of training days, two varying Test matches and this is an opportunity to step away from the heat of the battle,” McCullum was quoted by The Telegraph.

Rahul Dravid mentioned all his boys are shooting home as well: McCullum

McCullum mentioned that India head coach Rahul Dravid told him that all his players are heading back home for some relaxation after intense competition in the last two Test matches. He added that the visitors are happy with the scoreline at the moment as it’s the ‘fair reflection’ of the effort put in by both teams. He further added that England will come hard at India after the break.

“I was talking to Rahul Dravid and he mentioned all his boys are shooting home as well. We sit 1-1 which is a fair reflection that we’re in the contest. We’ve played some really good cricket over the last two Test matches. Yes, we have come out on the wrong side of it here but we got it across the line in the first one. The conviction about how we go about it as strong as it ever has been.

“It is not good losing but we walk away saying we gave it a good crack in this Test match and India are deserved victors,” the 42-year-old said.