Dan Lawrence is AXED ahead of England’s Test tour of Pakistan next month… while Chris Woakes is handed shot at away redemption as he is named in Ben Stokes’ 17-man squad

Dan Lawrence has been axed for England’s tour of Pakistan next month following his underwhelming return to Test cricket.

Surrey’s Lawrence paid the price for averaging just 20 as a makeshift opener in the 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka by losing the spare batting place in the squad to Jordan Cox, the player Essex signed to replace him at Chelmsford last winter.

However, Chris Woakes has been given a chance to resurrect his reputation as a Test bowler on foreign soil after being named in a 17-man England squad led by Ben Stokes.

This summer, Woakes, 35, showed his prowess with the ball at home is undiminished, adding 24 Test wickets to swell his overall tally to 137 at 21.59 runs apiece, but the contrast with his overseas return of 36 at 51.88 is stark.

Addressing the disparity recently, England coach Brendon McCullum said that the Warwickshire veteran would need to prove himself away this winter to be considered for next year’s Ashes.

Chris Woakes has also been named in Brendon McCullum’s 17-man Test squad to face Pakistan

England and Somerset spinner Jack Leach, 33, will look to make his first international Test appearance since January after undergoing surgery on his knee earlier this year

But with Zak Crawley recovering from finger surgery, and Stokes fit following a hamstring tear, there is no lifeline for Lawrence – the only player from this week’s eight-wicket Oval defeat to the Sri Lankans not retained.

Gus Atkinson and Leicestershire’s giant left-armer Josh Hull, who were both battling thigh niggles on the banks of the Thames, offer pace options alongside Olly Stone while the uncapped Brydon Carse, only days back from a ban for historical betting on cricket, is the beneficiary of his Durham team-mate Mark Wood being sidelined until 2025 with an elbow injury.

Jack Leach and Rehan Ahmed are recalled to support no 1 spinner Shoaib Bashir, having both contributed to England’s historic 3-0 whitewash in Pakistan two years ago.

The venues for this series will be confirmed later this week after the need for reconstruction work on the country’s major stadia triggered a re-think on its itinerary.