New Delhi: Left-arm spinner Liam Dawson will return to the England Test squad for the first time in eight years in place of the injured Shoaib Bashir for the fourth Test against India.
Bashir suffered a fracture on his left hand while attempting to stop a Ravindra Jadeja shot during India’s first innings on the third day of the third Test at Lord’s.
He continued to play in the match with a fractured hand and picked up the last wicket of India’s second innings on the fifth and final day on Monday.
He dismissed Mohammed Siraj as England bowled out India for 170 to win by 22 runs, following which it was announced that he has been ruled out for the remaining two matches of the five-Test series.
The fourth match will begin in Manchester’s Old Trafford on July 23 with Dawson expected to be in the team for the first time since 2017.
The 35-year-old made his Test debut back in 2016 against India and has claimed seven wickets in three matches, apart from six ODIs and 14 T20Is.
He has been called up after picking up 21 wickets in nine matches for Hampshire in the ongoing County Championship season.
A PCA Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024, Dawson has taken 371 wickets in 212 first-class games and scored over 10,000 runs including 18 centuries.
“Liam Dawson deserves his call-up. He has been in outstanding form in the County Championship and consistently puts in strong performances for Hampshire,” England selector Luke Wright said.
England have released seam bowlers Sam Cook and Jamie Overton, who have returned to their respective county sides.
The England Test Squad:
Ben Stokes (Captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes.