A few hours after his yelp of frustration echoed around Edgbaston, an innings of 65 and the growing conviction that “I was going to make a really big score” ended when he chased a wide delivery and played on, Dan Lawrence’s emotions had settled into something approaching contentment. England had taken a firm grip on the game, Pakistan ending the second day still 268 away from making them bat again with eight wickets remaining, and Lawrence, having posted three half-centuries in four Test innings this summer, is finally delivering on his obvious potential in an England shirt.
“I’m obviously gutted I didn’t kick on,” he said. “I felt like I was playing really nicely and it was a really good surface to bat on against a tiring attack at that stage. I thought I was going to make a really big score, but it wasn’t meant to be. But I’m really happy with how I’ve played [this summer].
