By England have officially announced their squad for the fourth Test against India at Emirates Old Trafford, and the biggest headline is the return of Liam Dawson to the Test side after more than eight years. The left-arm spinner comes in as the only change in the England XI for 4th Test, replacing Shoaib Bashir, who sustained a broken finger during the third Test at Lord’s.
Bashir’s injury was confirmed to be a fracture in his left pinkie, which required surgical intervention. Despite the pain, he heroically returned to bowl and took the final wicket at Lord’s to seal a dramatic win and give England a 2–1 lead in the five-match series.
England XI for 4th Test vs India
- Zak Crawley
- Ben Duckett
- Ollie Pope
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook
- Ben Stokes (c)
- Jamie Smith (wk)
- Liam Dawson
- Chris Woakes
- Brydon Carse
- Jofra Archer
Also Read: India Suffer Major Blow as Nitish Reddy Injured Ahead of 4th Test
Dawson’s Long-Awaited Return
Liam Dawson last played Test cricket in July 2017 against South Africa and now returns as a more seasoned and consistent spinner. He has taken 371 first-class wickets, with 12 five-wicket hauls and three 10-wicket match hauls since 2021, marking him as one of the most prolific domestic bowlers in recent years.
His recall is a testament to his persistence and performance in county cricket, and he’ll be expected to provide control and spin depth alongside England’s pace-heavy attack at Old Trafford.
Captain Ben Stokes retains faith in the rest of the playing XI that secured wins in the first and third Tests. Jamie Smith continues as wicketkeeper, while Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer, and Brydon Carse form a strong seam unit.
With conditions at Old Trafford likely to assist spinners later in the match, Dawson’s inclusion could be crucial. England will be looking to seal the series before heading into the fifth and final Test.
