England v India: Liam Dawson called up as Shoaib Bashir replacement

Spinner Liam Dawson is in line to play his first Test for eight years after being called into the England squad for the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford.

Left-armer Dawson, 35, is recalled after off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was ruled out of the rest of the series with a broken finger.

Dawson's selection means fellow left-armer Jack Leach, who has an England central contract, has been overlooked.

Leach was replaced as England's first-choice spinner by Bashir last year, but still played three Tests in Pakistan and was part of the squad that toured New Zealand over the winter.

For Dawson, this is a hard-earned call-up and reward for some outstanding form in domestic cricket. The Hampshire man has been named the Professional Cricketers' Association player of the year in each of the past two seasons.

Part of the England squad that won the 2019 World Cup, he was overlooked by England for three years before making his international return in the T20 series against West Indies earlier this summer.

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