Liam Dawson probably didn’t have July 23, 2025, circled on his calendar. If you had told him just one year ago that he would be back in England’s Test squad for the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford, he would have let out a good laugh and pointed you toward a Vitality Blast fixture instead. But here we are. After an eight-year gap from red-ball international cricket, the 35-year-old spin-bowling allrounder is well and truly back—and not just in a ‘hey, look how cool this is’ type of nostalgic selection but a genuine plug-in to a team that is missing its in-form offspinner, Shoaib Bashir, who is out with a fractured finger.
County Grit Pays Off: The Long Road Back
In a world where flamboyant IPL appearances or viral highlight reels often drive selection chatter, Dawson’s story is a welcome step back into the days of old-fashioned graft. He has played every single County Championship game available to him for Hampshire this season—nine matches, 21 wickets. Sure, his average isn’t exactly screaming “pick me now” at 40.04, but he does much more than just take wickets. He is a tempo controller, mistake creator, and captain’s option creator.
Let’s add to that his excellent white-ball form too—11 wickets in 10 Vitality Blast matches this season—Dawson is genuinely not only surviving but thriving in all formats of the game. England’s selectors took notice. Luke Wright spoke plainly, “He does deserve his first call-up.” There are no hard feelings, and it is not a selection. It is what he deserves.
Experience in the Dressing Room? Or an X-Factor on the Field?
At 35, Dawson won’t be asked to perform as a frontline spinner over 5 days. But he is not there for just warm-up duties or to hold drinks in branded bibs. It is 2-1 in the series, and England is looking to seal the deal back at Old Trafford.
Dawson provides an alternative left-arm option that is also balanced in the attack. He might not be a mystery spinner, but he can control, subtle variation, and can sometimes frustrate batters into mistakes. His batting skills make him a reliable option in the tail. Which could also be something else if England takes one of those “chase 240 but we’re at 87” fourth innings situations.
A Story Bigger Than Just a Selection
This recall is more than just a career reversal for Dawson; it is a message to every county cricketer who might have thought the Test door was closed forever once they hit a certain age or suffered a dip in form. The message from England’s top brass is straightforward—perform well, stay committed, and you’ll remain in contention. Surely Dukey will get a game, but whatever happens to his selection, notwithstanding that players are constantly emerging whilst others are continually being discarded beyond a certain age, is a feel-good moment for English cricket.
Dawson, an old recipe if ever there was one, would dismiss Test cricket not long ago as “completely off the radar”, testament to just how much can change in life as well as cricket!
Liam Dawson’s recall represents a gear part redemption arc, part reward for diligence, and full heart. Whether he gets the nod at Old Trafford or not, the message is loud and clear: domestic grind still matters.
So here’s a question for you: Should we start filling spots in the England squad with county veterans like Dawson, who seem to produce year after year? Or should we commit fully to youth? Comment with your thoughts down below.
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