Liam Dawson factfile: What links Shahid Afridi and Kevin Pietersen to uncapped spinner?
Sunday 4 September 2016 17:23, UK
Liam Dawson continues his high-rising summer with an ODI debut to add to his impressive first T20 match in England colours.
So who is the Hampshire spinning all-rounder and is he the favourite to travel to England's winter tours of Bangladesh and India as third spinner behind Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid? Here's what you need to know…
Age: 26
Born: Swindon, Wiltshire
Twitter: @daws128
Nickname: Daws
Loves: Darts & Southampton FC
He shares his birthday - March 1 - with Shahid Afridi…
…but will he bring the 'Boom Boom' factor to England's final ODI? Dawson's highest score in one-day cricket before this England call-up is 113no and he's smashed 242 boundaries in 103 innings but describes himself as a genuine all-rounder and considers batting his stronger suit.
One-Day cricket batting record
Matches: 125
Runs: 2,710
Best score: 113no
Average: 32.65
Strike rate: 93.77
Why does Kevin Pietersen spring to mind…?
Well remembered - back in August 2012, Pietersen was dismissed first ball by Dawson on his return to competitive cricket after being dropped from the England Test team. Earlier in the season Dawson removed the Surrey batsman for a golden duck. Yet it's his 50-over bowling where he's found even more success...
One-Day Bowling Record
Matches: 125
Wickets: 99
Best figures: 6-47
Average: 35.85
Economy rate: 4.87
Hang on, though. He's enjoyed a decent summer in the Royal London One-Day Cup, what took so long for his selection?
Yes, he has been pretty good, hasn't he. Dawson topped the Hampshire run-scoring table and averaged 71.80 with the bat, while he enjoyed the best bowling average of the side, taking eight wickets. Yet England boast a squad depth they've not seen before in one-day cricket and he's had to wait his chance.
So why has he been picked now?
James Whitaker points to Dawson's T20 England debut earlier in the summer where "he came into the squad for that one-off game and really impressed" - he took 3-27 that day and then backed it up with solid showings for the England Lions in their comprehensive wins over Pakistan A and Sri Lanka A. Whitaker also believes the spinner could have a similar impact on the sub-continent later this year, so feel this is the perfect opportunity to test Dawson out.
He does have some international pedigree, doesn't he?
Sure does, who can forget that notable England T20 debut on his home Agreas Bowl ground, knocking over the top order. He's a former England Under-19 captain, too - his slow left-arm ripped through Malaysia's line-up in 2007, earning figures of 6-9. The following season he scored his maiden first-class century, against Nottinghamshire, becoming the youngest player to score a hundred for the county in the process.
