England drops Lawrence, calls up Carse for Pakistan test tour

England's cricket team has made significant changes ahead of their three-match test tour of Pakistan scheduled for October. The squad announcement revealed that batter Dan Lawrence has been dropped after a disappointing performance against Sri Lanka, where his highest score was only 35. In his place, uncapped players Brydon Carse and Jordan Cox have been called up, with Carse returning to the game after serving a three-month ban for historical betting violations. The selection of Carse, who was previously banned for 16 months with 13 months suspended, marks a notable return to international cricket. He is expected to bolster England's pace attack alongside other seamers, including Chris Woakes, who is making his first overseas test appearance since 2022. The inclusion of young talent like 20-year-old Josh Hull, who debuted recently, indicates England's focus on building a strong future for their bowling lineup. The squad also features three spinners, Shoaib Bashir, Rehan Ahmed, and Jack Leach, who were previously overlooked for the summer series against the West Indies and Sri Lanka. This strategic selection aims to adapt to the subcontinent conditions, which typically favor spin bowling. The venues for the series are yet to be confirmed, with an announcement expected from the Pakistan Cricket Board soon. Overall, these changes reflect England's intent to strengthen their team dynamics and performance as they prepare for the challenges of playing in Pakistan, a country known for its passionate cricket culture and competitive matches.