Dan Lawrence
Player Information
Player Overview
Dan Lawrence is an England batter who plays for Desert Vipers in DP World ILT20 Season 5. He bats right handed and can also bowl right arm off break. Lawrence returns as one of the players retained by the Vipers after their Season 4 championship, giving the defending champions continuity in their batting group. He also remains part of England’s international setup and was included on the ECB’s central contract list for 2026–27.
Career Background
Lawrence developed his first-class career with Essex before moving to Surrey. His early county performances brought him into England contention, and he made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in Galle in January 2021. The ECB notes that his breakthrough county season came in 2016, when he scored three centuries and 902 runs during Essex’s promotion campaign. He later became part of Surrey’s squad and has continued to compete at county and international level. In August 2026, England recalled him to their Test squad for the series against Pakistan after a strong County Championship season.
Playing Style
Lawrence is primarily a right-handed batter, while his off-spin provides an additional bowling option. His career has included roles in the middle order as well as opportunities higher in the batting order. That experience allows him to adapt his approach depending on the match situation. Rather than describing him only as a power hitter, his record shows a batter with experience across both long-form cricket and shorter formats, where scoring tempo and strike rotation become increasingly important.
Which Team Does Dan Lawrence Play for in ILT20?
Dan Lawrence plays for Desert Vipers in the DP World ILT20. He was retained by the franchise ahead of Season 4 and remained with the team during their championship campaign. Desert Vipers again kept Lawrence for Season 5, alongside Andries Gous and Shimron Hetmyer, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman joined as a direct signing. The official Season 5 Desert Vipers roster currently classifies Lawrence as a Batter.
Dan Lawrence in the ILT20 Season 4 Final
Lawrence played a direct role in Desert Vipers winning their first ILT20 championship on 4 January 2026. In the final against MI Emirates at Dubai International Stadium, he came in after Max Holden’s dismissal and shared a 57-run partnership with captain Sam Curran. Lawrence scored 23 from 15 balls, including one four and one six, as the Vipers finished on 182 for 4. MI Emirates were then bowled out for 136, giving Desert Vipers a 46-run victory and their first tournament title.
Dan Lawrence in ILT20 Season 5
Desert Vipers retained Lawrence for Season 5 rather than rebuilding their squad without him. The new campaign begins on 21 November 2026, when the defending champions face MI Emirates in Dubai in a repeat of the Season 4 final. As the tournament has not started yet, Lawrence has no Season 5 match statistics to report. His place in the squad is confirmed, but any Season 5 runs, appearances or bowling figures should only be added once matches have been played.