England could bring in Dan Lawrence after Joe Denly lasts just two balls in warm-up game

Joe Denly on Friday inadvertently gave England a compelling reason to decide that planning for their Ashes top-order future really should start now.

On the day England breathed a sigh of relief when Sam Curran tested negative for covid-19, Denly provided a smaller headache by failing to nail down his first Test place.

Denly’s dismissal to his second ball on the final day of England’s intra-squad warm-up game leaves the selectors agonising over the best way to replace Joe Root when they name their squad to take on West Indies at the Ageas Bowl on Saturday.

Joe Denly (right) managed just one run during England’s intra-squad warm-up game on Friday

The case for England to bring in Dan Lawrence instead next week is an exciting one

And their deliberations should revolve around whether Denly really is the best man to go in at three not just next Wednesday but against Australia in 18 months time.

Rory Burns, who spent nearly two hours making 35 on Friday for Jos Buttler’s team in his first game back from injury, has enough credit to make an immediate return to the top order alongside Dom Sibley.

England could still include both Denly and Zak Crawley, who made such a promising impression when deputising for Burns in South Africa, at three and four in the absence of their captain, now back home in Sheffield ahead of the arrival of his second child.  

But with Denly still struggling to prove he is capable of more than just lasting a hundred or so balls in a Test innings before getting out, the case for England to be bold and bring in Dan Lawrence instead next week is an exciting one.

Ollie Pope was promoted to four on Friday and went on to make an unbeaten 55 at Ageas Bowl

It was perhaps revealing to see Ollie Pope promoted to four on Friday where he made an unbeaten 55 before Buttler declared for the second time in the match with his side on 200 for six. Stand-in captain Ben Stokes’ team then responded with 157 for four before both teams bumped elbows on a draw.

Pope could now bat in Root’s place next week with Crawley at three and Lawrence at six. For now the Essex man, who made 58 in the first innings after starring for the Lions in Australia last winter, is at least expected to be included in what will probably be a 15-man squad, with seven reserves asked to remain in the Ageas Bowl bubble.

Curran, who was put into isolation on Thursday after suffering sickness, will return to training over the weekend and will be closely monitored by the team doctor before undergoing another covid test with the rest of the squad on Sunday.