MANCHESTER: Veteran spinner Liam Dawson has been named in the England playing XI for the fourth Test against India, set to be played here at Old Trafford on Wednesday, 23 July.
Dawson is the only change in England’s playing XI that faced India at Lord’s last week. The left-arm spinner has returned to the fold in Test cricket for the first time in eight years for the Three Lions.
The 35-year-old spinner has replaced Shoaib Bashir, who suffered a broken finger on his left hand during India’s first essay in Lord’s Test last week.
Having made his Test debut against India in 2016, Dawson has so far featured in only three games for England, with his last appearance coming against South Africa in 2017.
However, he has caught the selectors’ eyes with an impressive performance in domestic cricket, despite being 35 years old. He has taken 12 five-wicket hauls, including three ten-wicket hauls, since 2021.
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In Bashir’s absence, Dawson will earn his fourth Test cap, having made his most recent appearance in July 2017 against South Africa. As a left-arm spinner, he has 371 first-class wickets to his name, but has been especially prolific in recent seasons.
Liam Dawson has demonstrated his all-round ability for Hampshire since the start of the 2023 season. He has 124 scalps at an impressive average of 25.64 alongside 956 runs at a mouthwatering average of 59.75.
England are currently 2-1 in the newly renamed Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, while India is in search of a win with the five-match series on the line.
England Playing XI
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wk), Liam Dawson, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer
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