England call up veteran spinner Liam Dawson to replace Bashir for fourth Test with India

The Guardian

3 days ago

Liam Dawson has been added to England's squad for the fourth Test against India, ending an eight-year exile from the longest format in international cricket.
Last month the Hampshire all-rounder made a successful return to England's T20 side after a three-year absence and, with Shoaib Bashir forced to pull out of the India series with a broken finger, he has finally been rewarded for his excellent red-ball form in recent seasons: 49 first-class wickets in 2023 followed by 54 in 2024, by a considerable margin his two most successful campaigns.
In nine matches this summer Dawson has taken a comparatively sober 21 wickets while the most successful spinner in the top flight, with 32, is Jack Leach, who has been overlooked despite still being on an England and Wales Cricket Board central contract. Dawson has also been preferred to Rehan Ahmed, Will Jacks and Tom Hartley, all spinners who have played Tests for England in recent years.
The 35-year-old is a much better batter than Bashir or Leach, with a first-class average this summer of 44.66 and across his career of 35.29, and a total of 18 first-class centuries.
'Liam Dawson deserves his call-up,' said the England selector Luke Wright. 'He has been in outstanding form in the County Championship and consistently puts in strong performances for Hampshire.'
Bashir broke his finger while fielding off his own bowling during India's first innings at Lord's, but despite the injury batted in England's second innings and bowled 5.5 overs on the final day, taking the decisive wicket as the Test was won by just 22 runs. Ben Stokes, the captain, said: 'It's a big shame, but I think the courage he showed to go out there and bat for us, and being willing to sit there on the bench waiting for his moment to come on and bowl, just proves how much it means to everyone who gets the opportunity to put the shirt on. 'Not even a couple of breaks is going to stop anyone getting out there.'
Ben Stokes (Durham; captain); Jofra Archer (Sussex); Gus Atkinson (Surrey); Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire); Harry Brook (Yorkshire); Brydon Carse (Durham); Zak Crawley (Kent); Liam Dawson (Hampshire); Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire); Ollie Pope (Surrey); Joe Root (Yorkshire); Jamie Smith (Surrey; wicketkeeper); Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire); Chris Woakes (Warwickshire).
Essex's Sam Cook and Jamie Overton of Surrey, who were both in the squad for the third Test, have been released to their respective counties to play in the County Championship. Gus Atkinson, who made his comeback from a hamstring injury by playing for Spencer CC against Sunbury in the Surrey Championship on Friday, retains his place.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Anderson and Rocky Flintoff will both take part in the Hundred this season after being selected in the wildcard draft. Anderson, the England bowling great who turns 43 this month, was selected by Manchester Originals. Flintoff, 17, will join up with his father, Andrew, head coach at Northern Superchargers. The pair were two of 32 names drafted, the final updates to the 16 squads before the competition's fifth year.