India got the beginning they wanted on Day 4 at Old Trafford, Manchester. Jasprit Bumrah was at his best. Delivered in line, took the bails off to a flier. Jasprit Bumrah befooled Liam Dawson and bowled him out.

An absolute jaffa to break the dangerous-looking partnership between Dawson and Ben Stokes. Liam was well set on the wicket, and India needed the wicket as early as possible. Bumrah was kind of off form on Day 3, hit by an injury in the ankle. He had to pull himself up from the ground and went back to participate in the match again after taking some rest and medical assistance.

Before the day's end, India's pace spearhead hinted to get back into rhythm. Jamie Smith's scalp was a big deal for Team India, and they got it in their bag through a brilliant Jasprit Bumrah. The pacer did even a lot better on the first session by knocking off the bails off Dawson.

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England batter caught surprise 

The ball was pitched at a good length, slightly on the outside of the off stump, but angled towards the right-handed batsman. The spin-bowling all-rounder was not prepared for that. He went to defend, but by then, the red cherry had found his destiny. Bull's eye, wickets tumbled, bails off, England lost their 8th wicket, and Bumrah got the second of the match.

Liam Dawson went back to the pavilion after scoring 26 off 65, with the help of 3 boundaries. By that time, on rare occasions, Bumrah had conceded over a hundred runs in Test innings. 

Watch the jaffa from Bumrah here

WHAT A BALL BY JASPRIT BUMRAH 🐐 pic.twitter.com/gA58LbNjDg

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 26, 2025

Yashasvi Jaiswal's fluent 50-plus innings came to an end against England spinner Liam Dawson. Jaiswal got a thick edge that carried to the slip where Harry Brook was waiting with his safe pair of hands. Dawson got the chance to join the playing XI because of the injury of another spinner, Shoaib Bashir.

From the beginning of the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar trophy, the England cricket team has been playing on the field with only one full-time spinner. Bashir had no doubt emerged as their first choice. He picked up an injury in the previous Test at Lord's cricket ground; after that, Dawson sneaked into the lineup. His wicket-taking delivery against Jaiswal was no less than a magical one, because, on a fresh Old Trafford pitch, the home team was struggling against Team India's two openers, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Rahul departed for 46, but his opening partner remained strong on the crease and completed another half century in the Whites. When the southpaw's wicket fell, India was then at 120. On the first ball of the 41st over, the English spinner delivered a good length with some flight. Jaiswal took out his right leg to defend it. He judged the ball in a wrong way. After hitting the deck, the red duke spun and took an edge from Jaiswal's blade. Brook, in the slip, made no mistake to grab the ball.

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Here's the wicket-taking delivery 

Well worth the wait, Daws! 🙌

Jaiswal caught by Brook off Dawson 🤲

🇮🇳 1⃣2⃣0⃣-2⃣ pic.twitter.com/b7H3zXAcXy

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 23, 2025

Thus, Yashasvi Jaiswal's 58-run innings, ended after facing 107 deliveries. During this inning, the opener smashed 10 boundaries and one over boundary to rotate the strike rate.

Another interesting fact is that Liam Dawson took a wicket for England after 8 years. Eight years ago, the spinner snatched the wicket of Hashim Amla, now a former South International. 

Liam Dawson will return to Test cricket after eight years as England made only one change for their playing eleven against India at Old Trafford in Manchester. The left-arm spinner replaced Shoaib Bashir, who has been ruled out of the series with a broken finger injury that he picked up during the first innings of the third Lord’s Test. Dawson has enjoyed 371 first-class wickets to his name, including 124 at 25.64 for Hampshire since January 2023.

Last year, he smashed 956 runs at an average of nearly 60 besides picking up 54 wickets in the red-ball format. He has thumped five FC centuries in the last five seasons, including three apiece in 2023 and 2024. At the start of the summer, he took 4/20 against the West Indies in his comeback game, under Harry Brook’s captaincy. Lord's Test will be an acid for him to get the Ashes tickets. 

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He's very experienced and a very skilful cricketer. He's played everywhere, played against everyone, so hopefully he can have an amazing performance this week. As we've seen over the Test series, the foot holes have been for the left-handed batters outside off, so hopefully he can land it in the foot holes and create a bit of spice and some opportunities to take wickets.’ Brook expressed in the press conference.

Liam Dawson returns as England lock their playing XI for ENG vs IND 4th Manchester Test

One change means the home side has denied Gus Atkinson for this fixture, as the Surrey bowler had been recovering from the hamstring injury that he picked against Zimbabwe in May. Chris Waokes, the veteran, has recovered well after going through 39 overs during the Lord’s Test match. He has struggled so far in this series with seven wickets at 56.42 and 60 runs with the bat.

The eyes will remain on Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes. The former went through a memorable game at Lord’s, but how much has been recovered since then will be the question. The England captain, on the other hand, bowled two 10-over spells in the last two days and looked drained by the end of the last game. His fitness will also be under the scanner.

England’s playing XI for ENG vs IND 4th Test in Manchester

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wicket-keeper), Liam Dawson, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer

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.  

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‘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.  

After the thrilling win at Lord's, England has announced its squad for the fourth Test. The team has made one change. Shoaib Bashir is out of the series due to injury. Liam Dawson has been included in the team in his place. Dawson has returned to the Test team after 8 years. He can contribute not only with spin bowling but also with the bat. The fourth Test match of the series will be played at Old Trafford from July 23.

A Change in the England Team

England has made a change in its squad for the fourth Test match. Shoaib Bashir will not play in the remaining two matches due to injury. Liam Dawson has been added to the team in his place. Dawson returns to the Test team after 8 years. He last played a Test match in 2017. So far, he has played 3 Test matches for England, scoring 84 runs and taking 7 wickets.

Dawson's highest score in Tests is 66 not out. His best bowling figures are 4 wickets for 101 runs. Bashir was injured while bowling during the Lord's Test. He has a fractured finger and is now out of the series.

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England Lead the Series 2-1

England played well in the Lord's Test and defeated India by 22 runs. It was a close and exciting match, but in the end, England came out on top. With this win, England took a 2-1 lead in the series. Jofra Archer bowled brilliantly and took 5 important wickets. Captain Ben Stokes also impressed with his bowling.

Liam Dawson, 35, now has a chance to play his first Test match in 8 years after being called into the squad for the fourth Test at Old Trafford. The left-arm spinner was picked after Bashir was ruled out with a broken finger.

Welcome, Daws! 👋

Spinner Liam Dawson joins our squad for the Fourth Test match against India 🏏

Full story 👇

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 15, 2025

Dawson has shown great form in domestic cricket and has been named the Professional Cricketers' Association Player of the Year for the last two seasons. He was part of England's 2019 World Cup-winning squad but was out of the national team for three years. He made his return earlier this summer in the T20 series against West Indies.

England Squad for Fourth Test vs India:

Ben Stokes, Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Jacob Bethell, Liam Dawson, Gus Atkinson, Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse.