Liam Dawson recalled for Old Trafford Test after eight-year absence

Liam Dawson will make a return to Test cricket after eight years in the wilderness as England's sole change for the fourth Test against India at Emirates Old Trafford.

Dawson replaces Shoaib Bashir, who suffered a broken finger on his left hand during the first innings of last week's Lord's Test, but returned valiantly to take the final wicket to give England a 2-1 series lead. He has since undergone an operation, with a wire inserted in his left pinkie finger to ensure it heals properly.

In Bashir's absence, Dawson will earn his fourth Test cap, having made his most recent appearance in July 2017 against South Africa. As a left-arm spinner, he has 371 first-class wickets to his name, but has been especially prolific in recent seasons, with 12 of his 15 five-wicket hauls, including three ten-wicket matches, coming since 2021.

Since the start of the 2023 season, Dawson has 124 dismissals for Hampshire at 25.64, with last year's 54 alongside 956 runs at 59.75 earning him the coveted men's PCA player of the year award. This summer, his 21 wickets at 40.04 - at an economy rate of 2.55 - have been accompanied by 536 runs at 44.66. He has scored nine first-class hundreds in the last five seasons, including three apiece in 2023 and 2024.

The news completes an about-turn for Dawson, who looked to have run his race with the national team before earning a recall to the T20I side after a three-year absence earlier this summer. The 35-year-old took 4 for 20 against West Indies in his comeback match, captained by England's recently appointed limited-overs captain Harry Brook.

"He's a wily, old fox," Brook said at Emirates Old Trafford on Monday. "He's very experienced and a very skilful cricketer. He's played everywhere, played against everyone so hopefully he can have an amazing performance this week.

"As we've seen over the Test series, the footholes have been for the left-handed batters outside off, so hopefully he can land it in the footholes and create a bit of spice and some opportunities to take wickets.

"He's willing to always fight for the team, he's very competitive and it's good to have him here."

England have also decided to play it safe with Gus Atkinson, wary the seamer is still not quite ready for a return to Test cricket. The 27-year-old was added to the squad for the third Test after recovering from a hamstring injury picked up against Zimbabwe in May. However, the management do not want to risk causing him further harm, particularly with a soft outfield following rain over the weekend, with more on Monday.

Chris Woakes, the veteran bowling allrounder, had been the likeliest man to make way for Atkinson, but he has recovered well after 39 overs during the Lord's Test.

Though Woakes has struggled so far, with seven wickets at 56.42 and just 60 runs from five innings with the bat, England have stuck with the 36-year old. He boasts an impressive record at this venue, with 35 dismissals at 17.37, as well as 221 runs at 36.83.

England XI: 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Jamie Smith (wk), 8 Liam Dawson, 9 Chris Woakes, 10 Brydon Carse, 11 Jofra Archer