Nasser Hussain, former England captain, thinks putting left-arm spinner Liam Dawson at number eight could make England’s lower middle order strong. This is before the fourth Test against India, which starts in Manchester on July 23.
Dawson, 35, last played a Test for England in July 2017. He’s back in the team after Shoaib Bashir hurt himself while fielding during the third Test at Lord’s. England won that game by 22 runs, leading the five-match series 2-1.
Hussain wrote in his Daily Mail column on Wednesday, It’s a shame about Shoaib Bashir, but that’s how it goes. An injury gives someone else a chance. Dawson can now show how good he is, not just with his bowling, but with his overall game.
If he bats at No. 8, that could make the lower order really strong. Maybe with Gus Atkinson, who has a Test century, at No. 9, and Brydon Carse, who batted well at Lord’s, at No. 10.
Hussain also thinks Dawson’s selection means England is moving on from left-arm spinner Jack Leach, who last played a Test in 2024.
Hussain added, It’s clear England is moving past Jack Leach, who gets on with Ben Stokes, but doesn’t have Dawson’s all-round skills.
That could be key when England decides which spin bowlers to take to Australia this winter. You need to be tough to do well there, and Dawson is.
Dawson has done well for Hampshire in the county championship recently. He was PCA Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024. Hussain also thinks Dawson’s return means England might stop making weird choices.
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He finished, It’s interesting that the selectors went from one extreme to the other. They went from picking Bashir based on social media videos to picking a guy who has played internationally and worked hard in county cricket.
England are moving away from odd picks, like Josh Hull for last year’s Oval Test against Sri Lanka. They’re telling county players if you score runs and get wickets, you’re in. Sam Cook was picked for the Zimbabwe Test, and now Dawson is back. It’s a good choice and good news for domestic cricketers everywhere.
