ENG vs IND 2025: Liam Dawson returns to England Test team after eight years to replace Shoaib Bashir

Shoaib Bashir injured himself while trying a catch to remove Ravindra Jadeja off his own bowling on Day 3 of India’s third Test against England at Lords. The 21-year-old off-spinner did not play on Day 3, but he did come out to bat on the penultimate day of the Test, scoring two runs off nine balls before being bowled by Washington Sundar. On Day 5, Bashir was put into the attack as England’s pacers struggled to grab the final wicket as India chased a 193-run total in the fourth innings. He grabbed Mohammed Siraj’s final wicket, giving the Three Lions a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

However, he will play his final game in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 after being ruled out of the previous two. Bashir will have surgery on his left little finger. His absence has created an opportunity for the seasoned Liam Dawson, who is one of the most reliable performers in the County circuit.

Liam Dawson’s last Test outing was against South Africa in July 2017.

He has made three Test appearances, taking seven wickets. However, he did play a T20I series against the West Indies at home last month. Dawson finished as the equal top wicket-taker, with five from three games.

In first-class cricket, Dawson, 35, has played 212 matches, picking up 371 wickets at an average of 31.54. He is also a very handy batter down the order, with a first-class average of 35.29, including 56 fifties and 18 centuries. Dawson is a left-arm spinner who is generally very accurate. The likes of Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, and Tom Hartley were also in contention after Bashir’s injury. However, the Three Lions have decided to go in with the Swindon-born.

“Liam Dawson deserves his call-up. He has been in outstanding form in the County Championship and consistently puts in strong performances for Hampshire,” national selector Luke Wright said in an ECB statement.