In a dramatic twist ahead of the must-watch 4th Test against India starting July 23 in Manchester, England has recalled left-arm orthodox spinner Liam Dawson after a staggering eight-year hiatus.

The 35-year-old, who last donned the Test whites against South Africa in 2017, will play in place of Shoaib Bashir, who fractured his left hand while fielding off his own bowling during India’s first innings in the third Test — a match England narrowly won by 22 runs.

Remarkably, Bashir continued to bowl in the second innings despite the fracture, playing a pivotal role by removing Mohammed Siraj to seal England’s nail-biting victory.

Dawson’s recall is a reward for sheer persistence and red-hot domestic form: the Hampshire stalwart, crowned PCA Player of the Year in both 2023 and 2024, boasts 371 wickets and over 10,000 runs in 212 first-class games, including 18 centuries.

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

Meanwhile, seamers Sam Cook and Jamie Overton have been released to rejoin their counties, as England look to keep the momentum going in this fiercely contested series.

England Test Squad: Ben Stokes (Captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes.