RISING star Dan Lawrence admits he wants to become Essex’s match winner next season as his first international tournament with England draws closer.

The teenager will line up for England under-19s in a tri-series tournament against India and Sri Lanka in December, alongside Essex team-mate Callum Taylor, following a hugely impressive debut season for his county.

Lawrence will be one of England’s brightest prospects in Sri Lanka after making two centuries against Australia’s under-19 side in One Day Internationals in August.

And he will hope for another strong performance as he looks to secure his place in the ICC Under-19 World Cup squad in Bangladesh come the end of December.

“This will be my first interational tournament and I am really excited about it,” said Lawrence, 18. “All the boys want to get started and to be able to travel and show what you can do on an international level would excite anyone.

“We have had some time at Loughborough doing some training and had some of the England lads bowl at us. I am good friends with (former Essex bowler) Reece Topley so that helped me and the fact I have got a couple of hundreds gives me confidence as well.

“I only had two or three weeks off as I like to keep busy and keep things ticking over and make sure I am in the best possible nick come the new season.”

Lawrence shot to prominence in just the second match of last season at Surrey, one of the sides hotly tipped for promotion.

Aged just 17 at the time, Lawrence scored 161 to tilt the contest in Essex’s favour, as more experienced teammates fell around him.

But the man voted the second XI player of the year wants to now become a staple member of the side, across all formats of the game, after failing to appear in the One Day Cup and turning out just once in the Twenty20 Cup.

“I want to get match-winning hundreds, experience new climates and evolve as a player,” said Lawrence. “I want to be a fixture in this Essex team, not just in four-day cricket but all three formats.

“I was pleased with the hundred at Surrey but I have really enjoyed being around the first team and learning from the experienced players.

“There is a really exciting crop of young players here. Players like Nick Browne and Kishen Velani reinforces the strength we have in our youth ranks and, balanced with experience, we will be a good side next year.”