15-07-2025
Liam Dawson recalled by England after eight-year exile to replace Shoaib Bashir
Liam Dawson returned to the international fold in T20s against the West Indies earlier this summer - Getty Images/Stu Forster
Liam Dawson will return to Test cricket for the first time in eight years after being called up by England following Shoaib Bashir's left finger injury.
Bashir broke his left little finger in the third Test at Lord's and will undergo surgery on the injury on Wednesday. Bashir managed to bat, bowl and field after suffering the injury and took the winning wicket, as Mohammed Siraj played on in bizarre fashion. Captain Ben Stokes praised his contribution to his side's win.
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Replacing Bashir, who has been their first-choice spinner since the start of last summer, has allowed England to rejig the balance of their side for the fourth Test at Old Trafford with the selection of Dawson.
Shoaib Bashir will undergo surgery on his broken little finger - Getty Images/Gareth Copley
Dawson was always one of the leading contenders to replace Bashir, but beats the England-contracted Jack Leach, as well as the likes of Rehan Ahmed and Will Jacks. He has been one of the most consistent players in county cricket with bat and ball and will allow England to bolster their batting from No 8.
The left-arm spinner had been in the international wilderness for a couple of years but returned to England's T20 squad under Brendon McCullum earlier this summer, and immediately impressed against West Indies, paving the way for his Test return.
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Dawson has played just three Tests, in 2016 and 2017, but has 371 first-class wickets to go with 18 centuries.
He has been in demand on the franchise circuit in recent years and has informed England that he has no interest in international call-ups if he was not going to be selected in the XI. This led to him missing out on last year's tour of India, but consistently outstanding domestic form has seen him called up.
Gus Atkinson will also be in contention for the fourth Test after a hamstring injury, while Josh Tongue could return to England's XI.
More to follow...
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