England have recalled 35-year-old Liam Dawson for the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford — a return that comes eight years after his last red-ball appearance for the national side.
Liam Dawson is back in England’s Test squad. The left-arm spinner and all-rounder has been called up for the fourth Test in Manchester, stepping in for the injured Shoaib Bashir, who fractured his finger during England’s dramatic 22-run win at Lord’s.
At 35, Dawson’s Test recall has caught attention not just because of his age, but because his last Test appearance came in 2017. In fact, he made his debut against India in Chennai back in 2016 — the same Test in which Karun Nair smashed a triple century and Alastair Cook captained England for the last time.
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Who is Liam Dawson?
Dawson is a seasoned campaigner in English domestic cricket. A left-arm orthodox spinner and a capable batter, he has been a key figure for Hampshire in the County Championship for over a decade.
His Test career, though, has been short and quiet. He played just three Tests — debuting against India in Chennai, where he made an unbeaten 66 and picked up two wickets. Two more appearances followed against South Africa in 2017, after which he was dropped and never picked again.
Since then, Dawson has become somewhat of a forgotten man in red-ball cricket, known more for being a squad player than a headline act. He was part of England’s 2019 World Cup-winning team but didn’t play a single game.
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Why now? What makes Liam Dawson’s comeback stand out?
England’s decision to recall Dawson speaks volumes about their trust in experience, versatility, and recent form. While several younger spinners have been tried — including Bashir, Tom Hartley, and Rehan Ahmed — Dawson’s numbers in domestic cricket have been too consistent to ignore.
Since being dropped in 2017, he has taken 194 first-class wickets at an average of 26.60. He’s also scored over 4,000 runs, with 9 centuries and 21 fifties — often batting at No.6. This season alone, he’s averaging 74 with the bat.
Liam Dawson: A reluctant Test cricketer no more
Interestingly, Dawson himself had given up on a Test return. Just last year, he said Test cricket was “completely off the radar” for him, having prioritised franchise cricket like the SA20, where he won a title with Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
“I don’t want to be running drinks at my age,” Dawson had said, making it clear he preferred playing cricket regularly over being a backup in England squads.
But England’s managing director Rob Key and coach Brendon McCullum have always rated him. They brought him back for the T20Is against West Indies last month, and now, with Bashir injured, they’ve turned to Dawson again — this time, for a possible Test XI role.
Not just a backup anymore
If Dawson plays in Manchester, it won’t be just a sentimental selection. His all-round ability gives England options, especially on a pitch where spin could play a major role. His recall also suggests that England are looking beyond just youth — they want players in form, regardless of age.
Whether Dawson makes the XI or not, his return is already a feel-good story in English cricket. Eight years after facing India in his Test debut, he might face them again — older, wiser, and arguably better than ever.
