England v India: Liam Dawson called up as Shoaib Bashir replacement

“Liam Dawson deserves his call-up. He has been in outstanding form in the County Championship and consistently puts in strong performances for Hampshire,” said national selector Luke Wright.

While Dawson would be the like-for-like replacement for Bashir as the frontline spinner in the England XI, there is also the option of Jacob Bethell, primarily a batter who bowls some left-arm spin.

However, England have also favoured a frontline spinner since Ben Stokes became captain in 2022. Only once, during the second Ashes Test at Lord’s in 2023, have England gone into a Test without a spinner under Stokes’ leadership.

Dawson also offers a boost to England’s batting at number eight. His first-class batting average of 35.29 outstrips that of opener Zak Crawley.

The injury to Bashir gives Dawson an unexpected opportunity to press his claim as a Test spinner, possibly earning a place on this winter’s Ashes tour or even usurping Bashir as first-choice.

Dawson won the first of his three Test caps against India in Chennai in 2016 and last against South Africa at Trent Bridge the following year. He has taken seven wickets and also scored a half-century.

Meanwhile, Jofra Archer’s triumphant comeback in the tense 22-run defeat of India in the third Test and Gus Atkinson’s return to fitness from a hamstring injury mean fellow pace bowlers Jamie Overton and Sam Cook have been released from the squad.

Archer and Atkinson are alongside Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue as the frontline seamers.

The fourth Test in Manchester begins on 23 July. England are 2-1 up and one win away from securing their first victory in a five-match series since 2018.