England vs India: Liam Dawson replaces injured Shoaib Bashir in hosts' side for fourth Test match at Old Trafford
With Shoaib Bashir out of the series due to injury, Liam Dawson replaces him in England's only change to their team for the fourth Test match against India; watch the fourth Test live on Sky Sports Cricket from Wednesday July 23 at 10am (11am first ball)
Tuesday 22 July 2025 09:51, UK
Liam Dawson will replace the injured Shoaib Bashir in the only change to England's side to face India in the fourth Test match at Old Trafford, with Rishabh Pant fit to feature as a wicket-keeper batsman for the tourists.
Left-arm spinner Dawson is set to play his first Test since July 2017, with a fractured finger having ruled Bashir out of the rest of the series.
After sustaining the injury, Bashir had remained involved in the third Test at Lord's and took the final wicket in a dramatic England victory.
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Dawson, 35, has been a star performer on the County Championship circuit with Hampshire and amassed 49 wickets in 2023 and a further 53 in 2024.
He had drifted out of England's red and white-ball contention in recent years, but was recalled to the T20 side earlier this season for the series against West Indies.
Dawson also has 18 first-class hundreds, is renowned as a fine fielder, and is set to bat at No 8 in England's line-up at Emirates Old Trafford where victory would secure a series win for Ben Stokes' side.
Harry Brook said: "(Dawson) is a wily, old fox, very experienced and a very skilful cricketer.
"He's played everywhere, played against everyone so hopefully he can have an amazing performance this week.
"He's willing to always fight for the team, he's very competitive and it's good to have him here."
England have resisted the opportunity to rotate their seam bowlers which means Jofra Archer will continue in the side having made a successful return to the Test team in the win at Lord's after more than four years out of action.
Brydon Carse, Chris Woakes and captain Stokes will provide further seam options.
Woakes, 36, keeps his place despite taking seven wickets at an average of 56.4 in the series.
He gets the nod ahead of Gus Atkinson partly because of his outstanding record in Manchester, where he averages nearly 37 with the bat and 17 with the ball in seven Tests.
Atkinson had a fitness test on Monday and while he was considered to be available, England have erred against risking a fast bowler who has been on the sidelines since late May with a hamstring injury.
Meanwhile it is understood fast bowler Mark Wood's hopes of being available for the fifth Test have been dashed.
Initially ruled out for four months following knee surgery in March, Wood rated himself as "50/50" for a potential decider at the Kia Oval, but he will now target the white-ball matches against South Africa later this summer for his England return.
Jurel to start for India but Pant to keep wicket
Pant will feature as wicket-keeper batsman for India in the fourth Test, with Dhruv Jurel expected to feature as a batter.
Indian coaches were considering using Pant as a batter after he picked up a finger injury in the third Test.
Dhruv Jurel deputised as wicketkeeper for most of the third Test.
Jurel might still start for India in the place of Nitesh Reddy, after he impressed in India A games and at Lord's.
It is understood that Jurel will slot into the number six position in the batting order.
Reddy is out of the series with an injury, with India also unable to call on bowlers Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh.
Mohammed Siraj confirmed on Monday that Jasprit Bumrah will feature.
Pacer Anshula Kamboj has been called into the squad and it is understood that he could make his Test debut.
Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja will complete the bowling unit.
England vs India - results and schedule
England lead five-match series 2-1 (all games at 11am UK and Ireland; all live on Sky Sports)
- First Test (Headingley) - England won by five wickets
- Second Test (Edgbaston) - India won by 336 runs
- Third Test (Lord's) - England won by 22 runs
- Fourth Test (Emirates Old Trafford): July 23-27
- Fifth Test (The Kia Oval): July 31-August 4
Watch the fourth Test between England and India at Old Trafford, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event on Wednesday with coverage from 10am ahead of the first ball at 11am, or stream without a contract.
