England has made a late change to its squad for the remaining two Test matches against India after young off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was ruled out due to injury. Bashir, who impressed on his debut tour with his ability to extract sharp turn on Indian pitches, will sadly miss the rest of the series.
In his place, England has called up experienced all-rounder Liam Dawson, who plays for Hampshire and is known for his left-arm orthodox spin and handy batting lower down the order.
This is not Dawson’s first time in the Test setup — he made his Test debut in India back in 2016 and has played a total of three Test matches so far. Although he has not featured for England’s Test team for several years, his domestic form and experience in subcontinent conditions make him a reliable spin option to strengthen the bowling attack alongside other spinners like Jack Leach and Rehan Ahmed.
The injury to Shoaib Bashir is a blow for England, as the young spinner had shown great promise and was expected to play a key role in the spin-friendly conditions. However, the team management is confident that Liam Dawson’s skill set will help maintain balance in the playing XI.
Liam Dawson, 35, has been a consistent performer in county cricket for Hampshire. Besides his left-arm spin, he is known for contributing crucial runs with the bat, which adds depth to England’s lower order. He was also part of England’s white-ball squads in the past and has experience in Indian conditions through international tours and franchise leagues.
England is currently looking to bounce back strongly in the final two Tests, and the inclusion of Dawson provides them with another spin option as they aim to tackle India’s strong batting lineup on turning tracks.
Fans will be keen to see if Dawson can make the most of this opportunity and deliver impactful performances in challenging conditions.