The two former England captains, Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain, have shared a few interesting insights on Liam Dawson, who has been selected by the home side for the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford in Manchester. This move from the selectors came after their number one spinner, Shoaib Bashir, was ruled out of the series due to injury.

‘I remember you (Michael Atherton) interviewing him (Liam Dawson) in the white-ball series. He had just got wickets in the T20s, having come back in, and you asked him, Would you be the second spinner on the Ashes? And he gave you a completely blank answer. He was almost like I am not answering that.’ Nasser Hussain, the former captain of the Three Lions, expressed how the left-arm spinner could get his flight ticket to Australia.  

See Also: RCB analyst credits this player over Virat Kohli for their maiden IPL 2025 title victory

‘So, if he does okay, I mean, I don’t know if he has asked Rob Key that if I am going as your number one spinner or am I carrying drinks for Shoaib Bashir? But that’s the issue of why has hasn’t played and is doing lucrative franchise cricket. He just doesn’t want to be in a bib, as we have seen many cricketers.’ The Chennai-born former Essex batter revealed.

Watch: Former England captains share interesting insights on Liam Dawson’s impact for ENG vs IND Test

Another former captain, Michael Atherton, also questioned if the Hampshire spinner would turn down an opportunity to play in the Ashes for franchise cricket. He felt that those T20 opportunities could wait for the future, but not the Ashes.

Is Liam Dawson a smart pick for England heading into the Manchester Test? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/G6ocJzXukn

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 18, 2025

‘An Ashes series, and will you turn down the opportunity to play in the Ashes?’ ‘I mean no, and it was silly of you asking the question, and especially, at his age and stage of the career, it feels like 3-0 as I had in 11 days in my time.’ ‘Franchise cricket tournaments will always be there, but your chance to play the Ashes series may not.’ Atherton replied.

Liam Dawson, as of now, has picked up 371 first-class wickets in 273 innings at an average of 31.54 and a strike rate of 66.2, besides smashing 10731 FC runs at an average of 35.29, scoring 18 centuries and 56 half-centuries at the best score of 171 runs.