Melbourne Stars have successfully signed English batter Dan Lawrence as an overseas replacement player for the remaining matches in the BBL. Lawrence’s inclusion comes as Stars face the absence of Pakistan’s Haris Rauf and Usama Mir, both unavailable due to international duty.
Lawrence, who had previously played four games for Brisbane Heat in the 2020 BBL, was not initially picked during the draft in September. However, he’s now set to bolster the Stars’ squad after their recent climb to fourth position with consecutive victories.
The absence of Mir and Rauf is due to their selection for Pakistan’s limited-overs tour of New Zealand starting from January 12. Notably, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) restricted their participation in the BBL until December 28, citing player workload and the national team’s upcoming schedule.
Rauf’s decision not to play in the Australia Test series caused tension between him and PCB officials. Later, it was revealed that the board had issued Rauf a show cause notice regarding his withdrawal from the Test squad.
This acquisition presents a positive development for the Stars, who faced challenges with their overseas signings. Despite initially selecting Harry Brook in the BBL overseas draft, Brook withdrew due to international commitments. Liam Dawson, another signing, was available for only three games before Christmas, whereas Imad Wasim joined for the post-Christmas fixtures.
Lawrence’s addition is expected to strengthen the Stars’ top-order, aiming to bolster their batting performance. His familiarity with Stars’ captain Glenn Maxwell, garnered from their time at London Spirit, could provide an added advantage. Moreover, Lawrence has experience at the MCG, having previously scored a century for England Lions against Australia A in an unofficial pink-ball Test in 2020.
