England call up Dawson to replace injured Bashir ahead of fourth test

England have recalled spinner Liam Dawson for next week's fourth test against India after the injured Shoaib Bashir was ruled out for the rest of the series.

Dawson made the last of his three test appearances eight years ago, but the 35-year-old is in line for an unexpected return to the international stage at Old Trafford.

Despite having already broken the little finger on his left hand, Bashir took the winning wicket in a dramatic finish to England's 22-run victory over India in the third test at Lord's on Monday.

Bashir is set for surgery in the coming days and will miss the remainder of the five-match series, with England holding a 2-1 lead before the next test in Manchester.

Dawson's recall comes after his outstanding form in county cricket for Hampshire.

The left-armer has been named the Professional Cricketers' Association Player of the Year in the past two seasons.

Dawson was part of the England squad that won the 50-over World Cup in 2019.

After three years out of the England setup, he made his international return in the T20 series against West Indies earlier this summer.

Dawson has been picked ahead of fellow left-armer Jack Leach, despite the latter being centrally contracted.

Leach was replaced as England's first-choice spinner by Bashir last year, although he featured in three tests in Pakistan and was part of the squad that toured New Zealand over the winter.

INDIA'S CRICKET STARS CONSOLED BY KING CHARLES AFTER LORD'S DEFEAT

Britain's King Charles III commiserated with India's crestfallen cricket stars on Tuesday in the aftermath of their painful defeat against England at Lord's.

Charles consoled members of the Indian team when he hosted them at his Clarence House home less than 24 hours after the third test ended in an agonising loss for the tourists.

India, chasing 193 to win, were beaten by 22 runs in the final session of the last day.

India's Mohammed Siraj was the last man out when he attempted to block a delivery from Shoaib Bashir, only to see the ball spin back onto the stumps and dislodge a bail.

The King told India captain Shubman Gill he had watched the crucial last wicket fall on television on Monday.

He said in sympathy about the dramatic spin on the ball that dismissed Siraj; "really annoying just to touch the bails".

India trail 2-1 in the five-match series, with the fourth test scheduled for Old Trafford next week before the finale at The Oval in London.

Gill added: "He did tell us that the way our last batsman got out was quite unfortunate - the ball rolling on the stumps, and he was just asking us how did we feel after that.

"And we told him it was an unfortunate match for us, but it could have gone either way and hopefully we'll have better luck in both the next games."