Follow UsAs has been the tradition with this England side, they announced their playing XI for the next Test at Old Trafford in Manchester. There is only change in the squad from the previous Test, as spin bowling all-rounder Liam Dawson was included in the side in place of off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, who broke a finger on his left hand after being hit on it during India’s first innings.
Dawson averages 35 with the bat in first-class cricket, and his inclusion has strengthened England’s batting. He has already played three Tests for England before, and is in great form with the ball and bat both in recent years, where he has taken 12 five-wicket hauls since 2021 and scored nine first-class hundreds in the same period. He also won the PCA Men’s Player of the Year award in 2024.
Notably, he also made a comeback in England’s T20I side earlier, where he took 4/20 against West Indies.
“He's a wily, old fox," Brook, who captained him in that game, said on Dawson at Emirates Old Trafford on Monday, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
“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."
Meanwhile, Bashir has undergone an operation for his broken finger already.
England’s Playing XI
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook. Ben Stokes ©, Jamie Smith (wk). Liam Dawson, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer