England vs India 4th Test team news: Liam Dawson returns as Chris Woakes keeps place

New York Times

3 days ago

England have made just one enforced change to the team that earned them a tense and narrow third Test victory over India at Lord's by bringing in Liam Dawson to replace the injured Shoaib Bashir.
The veteran Hampshire left-arm spinner makes his first Test appearance in eight years as England seek a win in the fourth Test at Old Trafford that would give them an unassailable 3-1 lead and earn them the most important series victory in the three years under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.
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Dawson, 35, with 18 first-class centuries to his name, brings much more of an all-round package than the inexperienced Bashir and is expected to bat at No. 8 at Old Trafford ahead of Chris Woakes, who is retained despite a largely disappointing series.
Woakes, 36, who has taken seven wickets in the three Tests so far at 56.40 apiece, keeps his place largely because of his excellent record at Old Trafford where he has taken 35 wickets in seven Tests at 17.
England were reluctant to throw Gus Atkinson back into the side for his first game since he injured his hamstring against Zimbabwe in May off the back of just one appearance for Spencer in the Surrey Club Championship.
England are clearly determined to give Woakes every chance to prove he is not quite yet at the end of the international road.
The decision to retain the experienced seamer for the fourth Test against India, which begins on Wednesday, owes much to his outstanding record at Old Trafford and the nine-day break England's bowlers have enjoyed since their nail-biting 22-run victory at Lord's.
But it also demonstrates England's faith in Woakes at a time when his under-par performances in the series so far have led to question marks over his future beyond this summer.
There are also concerns over whether the most likely replacement for Woakes, Atkinson, is fully fit and England will step up his recovery after injury by asking Surrey to include him in their second team ahead of the last Test at the Oval.
The one change England have made may have been enforced because of Bashir's broken finger but the return of Dawson for his fourth Test appearance eight years after his third should strengthen them, at least in the short term.
The vastly experienced Dawson is a more attacking bowler than when last he played Test cricket and is also a good enough batter to be considered a genuine all-rounder. He will bat at eight with Woakes at nine and Brydon Carse at 10 in a deep batting line-up.