ENG vs IND: Is Liam Dawson a smart pick for England for Manchester Test?

India Today

18-07-2025

After Shoaib Bashir was ruled out of the remainder of the Test series against India, England found themselves in a dilemma. While spin hasn't played a major role in the first three Tests, the hosts couldn't afford to rely solely on Joe Root's part-time off-spin - especially if their pacers failed to make inroads.Faced with this challenge, England turned to Liam Dawson for the fourth Test in Manchester. It was a somewhat surprising decision given the available options, which included Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Jack Leach, and others. Dawson, after all, hasn't played a Test match since 2017 and has just three appearances in the format to his name.advertisementBacking Dawson's selection, England selector Luke Wright said, "Liam Dawson deserves his call-up. He has been in outstanding form in the County Championship and consistently puts in strong performances for Hampshire."Is Dawson an apt replacement for Bashir?
In terms of Test experience, Bashir has had a slightly greater taste of the longer format. However, when it comes to first-class cricket, Dawson's resume is far more substantial. With nearly two decades on the red-ball circuit, Dawson has faced top-tier batters in England's domestic competitions and in T20 leagues around the world, including the Pakistan Super League and The Hundred.Across 212 first-class matches, Dawson has taken 371 wickets, including 16 four-wicket hauls, 15 five-wicket hauls, and three 10-wicket match hauls. Given his extensive experience, he has the ability to deliver key breakthroughs whenever called upon - especially in Manchester, where England's pace attack is expected to bear most of the load.Dawson heads into the Manchester Test on the back of a solid County Championship season with Hampshire. In nine matches, the left-arm spinner claimed 21 wickets across 16 innings, including a five-wicket haul.He also featured in the T20 Blast, picking up 11 wickets in his first 10 games at an economy rate of 7.27 - impressive for the format. All told, Dawson enters the fourth Test with a decent amount of recent match practice under his belt.Dawson deepens England's battingWhile Dawson is undoubtedly skilled with the ball, his batting contributions shouldn't be overlooked. With 10,731 first-class runs at an average of 35.29, including 18 centuries and 56 half-centuries, Dawson is a significantly stronger batter than Bashir. His inclusion in the playing XI for the fourth Test would not only bolster England's spin options but also deepen their batting lineup.If Dawson replaces Bashir, England could field a side where every player is capable of contributing with the bat-eliminating any clear tail-end and presenting a major challenge for India's bowlers.Dawson's current form with the bat adds further weight to his case. In this season's County Championship, he has scored 536 runs in nine matches at an average of 44.66, including a century and two fifties-highlighting his all-round value ahead of the Manchester Test.After their crushing 336-run defeat at Edgbaston, Ben Stokes' England side found themselves under considerable pressure. They nearly let things slip again at Lord's, scraping through with a narrow 22-run win at the Home of Cricket. Now, heading into the Manchester Test, England have a golden opportunity to take control of the series and potentially seal its fate with another victory.- EndsYou May Also Like