ECB selects Liam Dawson to replace Shoaib Bashir for last two Tests
The Three Lions announced on social media that they are adding a left-arm spinner to the squad. Dawson returns after eight years.
Bashir who was key to England’s win at Lord’s is out of the series after a finger injury in the first innings of the last match.
England have also reduced the squad from 16 to 14 as Jamie Overton and Sam Cook have gone back to county cricket.
Dawson is a slow left-arm spinner and a good number eight batsman. His addition should strengthen the home side’s batting. He has played 3 Tests, 6 ODIs and 14 T20Is for England.
He had been out of international cricket for two years. He hadn’t signed a central contract and told the ECB he wanted to play franchise cricket around the world if he wasn’t going to start for the national side. That was one reason why he missed England’s tour of India last year where Bashir made his debut.
Read Also:- Cricket Returns to Olympics: First Match Date Announced
Bashir fractured his left hand trying to stop a shot from India’s Ravindra Jadeja at Lord’s. But he continued to field and bowl and even took the last wicket of the Test to seal the 22-run win for England.
He will now have surgery and won’t play in the remaining two Tests of the series. The first of these tests starts at Old Trafford on July 23.
