Liam Dawson Returns To Test Cricket After 8 Years: Will He Be England's Trump Card Against India?
Experience and Depth in Lower Order
Dawson's inclusion strengthens not only England's spin department with his left-arm orthodox bowling but also adds valuable runs to the lower order. The 34-year-old boasts an impressive first-class record, including 18 centuries and a batting average of 35.29 notably higher than current opener Zak Crawley.
Dawson's International Career Comes Full Circle
Once a part of England's victorious 2019 World Cup squad, Dawson's international career appeared to have ended after sporadic white-ball appearances in 2022. At the start of this summer, Dawson candidly admitted he was 'realistic' about his chances of playing for England again. However, his surprise recall for the T20I series against West Indies in May reignited hopes and now, he finds himself back in the Test team.
Leaps Over Leach for Test Spot
In an unexpected selection twist, Dawson has leapfrogged fellow left-arm spinner Jack Leach, who has been part of recent England squads and holds a central contract. Dawson's wealth of experience and recent form have earned him the nod from the selectors.
Praise From Teammates
Teammate Harry Brook praised Dawson's character and contribution: 'He brings experience and guile. He's very skilful and a great bloke. He was nervous before his T20 comeback, and I'm sure he'll be nervous again this week but his experience and skills will guide him.'
England XI for 4th Test vs India
England's lineup for the fourth Test includes:
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wk), Liam Dawson, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer.
England Lead Series 2-1 vs India
England currently hold a 2-1 lead in the five-match Test series against India. The hosts secured victories in the first Test at Leeds and the third Test at Lord's, while India fought back with a win in the second match at Edgbaston.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
8 minutes ago
- News18
India-UK Deal, ‘Chai Pe Charcha', Cricket & EPL: PM Modi's Day Out With Starmer At Chequers
Curated By : Shankhyaneel Sarkar Last Updated: July 24, 2025, 21:46 IST Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have a cup of tea during a business showcase event at Chequers near Aylesbury, England. (IMAGE: REUTERS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met at Chequers, the British PM's country residence, on Thursday for a business showcase event where the two leaders formally concluded the long-awaited India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The deal was signed after a high-level delegation meeting attended by top officials from both sides led by the respective prime ministers. The moment was marked by a casual yet symbolic tea break at a stall named 'Amala Chai," where PM Modi and UK PM Starmer were seen enjoying a cup of tea together. Shortly after the interaction, PM Modi shared photos from the event on X, writing: ''Chai Pe Charcha' with PM Keir Starmer at Chequers…brewing stronger India-UK ties! @Keir_Starmer." The gathering at Chequers also featured an interaction with players from the Buckinghamshire Street Cricket Hubs, highlighting the role of sport in building people-to-people connections. India and the UK are connected by a shared passion for cricket. At Chequers, PM Keir Starmer and I interacted with players from Buckinghamshire Street Cricket Hubs. Great to see sport fostering people-to-people ties between our nations. Also gave my young friends a bat signed… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 24, 2025 'India and the UK are connected by a shared passion for cricket," Prime Minister Modi said. 'At Chequers, PM Keir Starmer and I interacted with players… Great to see sport fostering people-to-people ties between our nations. Also gave my young friends a bat signed by the Indian cricket team which won the T20 World Cup." The tea and cricket-themed diplomacy followed the formal announcement of the FTA, a deal described as a milestone by both governments. Swipe Left For Next Video View all Modi said the agreement would enhance Indian exports in sectors such as textiles, footwear, gems, jewellery and seafood, while enabling Indian consumers to access British products like medical devices and aerospace components more affordably. He added that the deal would 'create new job opportunities" and benefit 'India's youth, farmers, fishermen, and MSMEs." Starmer called the FTA 'the most significant deal the UK has signed since leaving the EU," saying it would 'boost wages, raise living standards and put more money in the pockets of working people." He also said the agreement sends a clear message that 'the UK is open for business". Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More view comments News world India-UK Deal, 'Chai Pe Charcha', Cricket & EPL: PM Modi's Day Out With Starmer At Chequers Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
8 minutes ago
- First Post
Not Ishan Kishan, BCCI eyes Ranji trophy standout as ideal replacement for Rishabh Pant in England: Report
Rishabh Pant's unfortunate injury has put BCCI in a tough spot, with the board having reportedly zeroed in on a Tamil Nadu cricketer, with the announcement expected soon. read more With Rishabh Pant virtually ruled out of the fifth Test for the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy at The Oval owing to a toe fracture, the Board of Control for Cricket in India is looking forward to bringing a capable replacement on board. The board is navigating through options, and as per striking reports, they have zeroed in on a name. According to Cricbuzz, BCCI have identified Tamil Nadu cricketer N Jagadeesan as the ideal replacement for the injured Pant, and an announcement regarding the same is expected to come out soon. Earlier, the reports of Ishan Kishan being the potential alternate made waves, but it turns out the Jharkhand cricketer is not available. Thus, they moved to the next best option. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Jagdeesan's performance brought him into the scheme of things Jagadeesan may have come into the fray based on his stellar domestic performance, particularly in red-ball cricket. In 52 First-Class matches, the wicketkeeper-batsman has scored 3,373 runs at a fine average of 47.50. He has 14 half-centuries and 10 centuries to his name in the domestic circuit. He emerged as a standout player in the last Ranji season, where he amassed 674 runs in eight matches at a brilliant average of 56.16, notching two hundreds and five fifties in the process. He ended up being the leading run-scorer for his state in the competition. Ideally, the selectors would have explored the A side that toured England ahead of the senior team, but with limited options available – Kishan injured and Dhruv Jurel already a part of the squad – they had to look elsewhere. The selectors had the option to pick KS Bharat, another keeper-batter, who is currently playing in England for Dulwich CC. Bharat has even played a Test in England but was not considered for the role. With Rishabh Pant injured, Jurel will carry out the wicketkeeping duties in the . India also have the option to hand over the keeping duties to KL Rahul, who has kept wickets in international games, including in the World Cup and Champions Trophy.
Economic Times
22 minutes ago
- Economic Times
PUBG MOBILE World Cup 2025 returns with Rs 25.5 crore prize: Check dates, teams, groups and where to watch games
Synopsis The PUBG MOBILE World Cup (PMWC) 2025 is set to ignite Riyadh as part of the Esports World Cup. Starting with a Group Draw, 24 global teams will battle in the Group Stage from July 25-27 for a Grand Finals spot and a share of the $3 million prize pool. Reuters PUBG MOBILE World Cup 2025 date The PUBG MOBILE World Cup (PMWC) is back for its second edition as part of the Esports World Cup in Riyadh. The tournament begins with a Group Draw that divides 24 teams from across the world into three groups. They will compete in the Group Stage from July 25 to 27 for a spot in the Grand Finals and a chance to win a share of the $3 million (over Rs 25.5 crore) prize made its debut last year and returns this summer as a central event of the Esports World Cup. It highlights PUBG MOBILE Esports' continued efforts to grow the global mobile esports scene. This year's edition introduces a refreshed SMASH ruleset. According to the new format, a team must first reach match point—defined as the top team's score after Day 2 plus 10 points—and then win a match to claim the championship. If no team meets this condition after 18 matches, the team with the highest total points will win the Red Team Falcons Fire Flux Esports IDA Esports Horaa Esports Regnum Carya Esports Alpha Gaming eArena 4Thrives Esports Group Yellow Alter Ego Ares POWR Esports Team Secret Gamax Esports Alpha7 Esports Team Vision INTENSE GAME Nongshim RedForce Group Green INFLUENCE RAGE KINOTROPE Gaming Weibo Gaming DRX TT Global Aryan & TMG Gaming Yangon Galacticos R8 Esports Group Stage: July 25–27 Survival Stage: July 29–30 Grand Finals: August 1–3 Fans can follow live matches and highlights through official PUBG MOBILE Esports channels on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube. The Group Draw placed 24 teams into five pools based on their performance in regional qualifiers. These teams were then distributed into three groups Each group contains eight teams. The teams qualified through various regional leagues, including the PUBG MOBILE Super League (PMSL) and the PUBG MOBILE Challengers League (PMCL), along with invited teams from other Group Red, notable teams include Team Falcons Fire Flux Esports Nongshim RedForce. Group Yellow Alter Ego Ares POWR Esports DRX. Group Green IDA Esports Weibo Gaming TT Global All 24 teams will move beyond the Group Stage. The top eight teams will qualify directly for the Grand Finals, which will take place from August 1 to 3. The remaining 16 teams will compete in the Survival Stage on July 29 and 30 for another shot at the title.
