After the Shaaib Bashir was excluded from the rest of the test series against India, England found itself in the dilemma. While Spin did not play a major role in the first three tests, the hosts could not afford to rely solely on an off-spin part-time part-time root, especially if their Pacers failed to penetrate.
In the face of this challenge, England turned to Liam Dawson For the fourth test in Manchester. It was a somewhat surprising decision due to the available possibilities, including Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Jack Leach and others. After all, Dawson, after all, has not played a test match since 2017 and has only three appearances on his name.
England, which supported Dawson’s selection, said England Luke Wright: “Liam Dawson deserves his call. He was in excellent form in the regional championship and strictly performed for Hampshire.”
Is Dawson APT a replacement for Bashir?
When it comes to testing experience, Bashir had a slightly greater taste of a longer format. However, as far as first -class cricket is concerned, Dawson’s biography is much more important. With almost two decades on the Red Ball circuit, Dawson faced home competitions in England and the T20 leagues around the world, including the Pakistan Super League and hundreds.
During 212 first -class matches, Dawson took 371 goals, of which 16 with four goals, 15 five goals and three interests of 10 goals. Given his extensive experience, he has the ability to supply key breakthroughs whenever he is invited – especially in Manchester, where the Tempa is expected to carry most of the burden.
Dawson will head to the Manchester test on the back of the solid season of the championship in the Hampshire region. In nine matches, Spinner left shoulder claimed 21 goals in 16 shifts, including a raid of five goals.
He also performed in the T20 Blast and picked up 11 goals in his first 10 games at an economic speed of 7.27 – impressive for the format. Everyone said Dawson was entering the fourth test with a decent amount of recent match practice under the belt.
Dawson deepens the batting of England
While Dawson is undoubtedly a qualified ball, his tab posts should not be overlooked. With 10,731 first -class runs on average 35.29, of which 18 centuries and 56 half -lives, Dawson is a significantly stronger dough than Bashir. Its integration into playing XI for the fourth test would not only strengthen England’s possibilities of rotation, but also deepened their brand set.
If Dawson replaces Bashira, England could build a party where each player is able to contribute with a bat eliminating the clear end of the tail and introduce the main challenge for Indian pitch.
Dawson’s current form with a bat contributes to his case with another weight. This season in the Regional Championship scored 536 runs in nine matches on average 44.66, including the centuries and the two fifties and aroused its versatile value before the Manchester test.
After crushing the 336-run defeat in Edgbaston, Ben Stokes’ England found itself under considerable pressure. They almost let things slip on to Lord and scratched with a narrow 22-run victory in the cricket house. Now, heading for the Manchester test, England has a unique opportunity to take control of the series and potentially seal its fate by another victory.
– ends
Published:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
18 July 2025
