Ahead of the Ranchi Test, former England captain Michael Vaughan has predicted a return of middle-order batter Dan Lawrence to the England XI.

England started their tour with an emphatic victory in Hyderabad, but fell flat with twin heavy defeats in Visakhapatnam and Rajkot. As a result, the series is tilted 2-1 in India’s favour despite the tourists showing sporadic instances of brilliance on the field.

Michael Vaughan was critical of England’s performance after they handed the hosts their biggest Test win in Rajkot, but had backed them to level the five-match series 2-2 with a win in the fourth Test, saying the wicket in Ranchi would assist spinners just like the first Test, and will prove advantageous to England.

He felt that England would go with three spinners and a solitary fast bowler, and a possible comeback for Dan Lawrence in the Test XI is also on the cards.

“I hear the pitch in Ranchi will be like the first test .. lots of spin & a shorter game .. brings England’s spinners into the game.. 1 seamer & Dan Laurence to play is my guess,” Vaughan wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

With Jasprit Bumrah, the leading wicket-taker in the series, released from India’s squad to manage his workload, Vaughan reckoned “England will have a good chance”.

I hear the pitch in Ranchi will be like the first test .. lots of spin & a shorter game .. brings Englands spinners into the game .. 1 seamer & Dan Laurence to play is my guess .. England will a good chance with No Bumrah as well .. #OnOn #INDvENG

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 21, 2024

Lawrence, who has not represented England in a Test match since March 2022 in the West Indies, was called up as a replacement for Harry Brook, who exited the India tour due to personal reasons. He featured thrice during England’s previous Test tour of India in 2020/21, scoring 149 runs at an average of 24.83.

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