ENG vs NZ 2026: ‘I would have gone with Dan Lawrence’ - Nasser Hussain questions selection call for second Test

Former England cricketer Nasser Hussain believes Dan Lawrence should be included in England’s squad for the Test against New Zealand at The Oval following his outstanding form in county cricket. Lawrence recently produced a remarkable performance for Surrey, scoring 318 runs across two innings in a drawn match against Hampshire.

The 27-year-old made the most recent of his 14 Test appearances as an opener. He scored 101 off just 64 deliveries in the first innings and followed that up with a magnificent 218 from 190 balls in county cricket. Currently averaging 78 in the County Championship, Lawrence is the leading run-scorer in Division One.

"I'd have gone Dan Lawrence and not just on the back of two hundreds there this week, We did a County Championship game earlier in the season, albeit on a flat pitch. He looked like he was getting in some really good positions, having a little bit of a slow start to the season, actually a couple of loose shots,” said Hussain on Sky Sports.

"Since then he's been outstanding, and bowls a bit of off-spin - that's the role Dan Lawrence does at Surrey at The Oval. He's batting back where he should be batting in the middle order anywhere from four to seven, I personally would have gone with Dan Lawrence. I would've said that before this championship game too, especially at The Oval,” he added.

England have announced their squad for the second Test against New Zealand, scheduled to begin on June 17. Regular captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson have been ruled out of selection, with Joe Root appointed as interim captain for the match and will look to seal the series by winning the second Test.

England Test Squad for second Test vs New Zealand:

Joe Root (C), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Rew, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue