Follow UsLess than 24 hours after winning the Lord’s Test, England have made a major addition to their Test squad, roping in left-arm spinner and all-rounder Liam Dawson for the fourth Test in place of the injured Shoaib Bashir.
Dawson, 35, is a veteran of 212 first-class games and he returns to the Test set-up after an eight-year hiatus, having last played Test cricket for England back in 2017. It’s a recall that’s already brought delight amongst English fans, for Dawson is someone the fans have been begging the ECB to recall for years now, thanks to his consistent first-class performances.
Test Debut in 2016, dropped after 3 games
A left-arm spinner and a very talented batter, Dawson made his debut as a 26-year-old in the Chennai Test against India, incidentally the game in which Karun Nair famously hit a triple ton. There, he scored 66* in the first innings batting at No.8, and took 2/129 with the ball in India’s only innings, dismissing Murali Vijay and Ravindra Jadeja.
He then played two Tests against South Africa in the home series in 2017 but was left out of the side after that, only to never be picked again - until now.
Last month, Dawson made his T20I return after three years, featuring in the T20Is against West Indies at home. He picked 5 wickets in 3 games, and was not required to bat in any of the matches.
Domination of the County Circuit
That Dawson finds himself back in the side is a byproduct of sheer consistency and determination. For eight years, the 35-year-old has been one of the most consistent performers in England’s domestic circuit, shining with both bat and ball for Hampshire.
Post July 2017, when he got axed from Tests, Dawson has taken 194 FC wickets at an average of 26.60. 2023 and 2024 have been his best bowling years during this period, with him taking a whopping 95 wickets across these two years.
However, he’s also dominated domestic cricket with the bat in hand. In the same period, Dawson has amassed over 4,000 runs at an average of 38, smashing 9 hundreds and 21 fifties. He’s predominantly batted at No.6 for Hampshire, where he’s averaged 43.00. With the bat in hand, he is averaging 74 in the ongoing County Season, and has one hundred to his name.
He will be expected to bat at No.8 for England in the fourth Test, but Dawson is a batter good enough to be batting in the top six.
Why did he not play Tests for eight years?
Dawson was all set to be recalled for England’s tour of India in 2024, but he made it known to the selectors that, at his age, he prefers not to run drinks and instead wishes to earn and win big in the franchise circuit.
"To be honest, probably no,” he told ESPNCricinfo in 2023, when asked if accepting a Test call-up would be a straightforward decision.
“I am 33 now. I am very realistic that I am not always going to play for England. At the minute I am going to South Africa [SA20], but if things change I will have to make a decision.
"The game is changing massively and everybody that is involved in the game understands that. Financially it is something at my age that I will have to consider, that will be a big decision,” he had said.
Then in March 2024, following a successful SA20 season with Sunrisers Eastern Cape, Dawson told ESPNCricinfo: “Knowing that going to South Africa, knowing I was going to play there - obviously with the [Sunrisers] coach, Adi Birrell, here at Hampshire, I knew I was going to play, which was nice. It's not something I want to be doing, running drinks at my age anymore. I was really happy with what I chose this winter and it went well."
He had indicated in the interview that he felt that his Test career was all but over.
"I think with my age, 34, realistically that's [Test recall] probably gone to be honest. There's been a few things happened over the last few months. Speaking to [England selector] Luke Wright, I know where I stand. I don't expect to play.”
How the tide changes. One year later, at 35, Dawson is back in whites and will be key to England winning the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.