England have confirmed one change to their playing XI for the crucial Fourth Test against India at Old Trafford, starting Wednesday, July 23. Hampshire all-rounder Liam Dawson replaces the injured Shoaib Bashir, marking his first Test appearance since July 2017. Dawson, a seasoned domestic performer, offers depth with both bat and ball on what is expected to be a spin-friendly surface in Manchester.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!England XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Liam Dawson, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer.For India, the spotlight is on Anshul Kamboj, the 24-year-old right-arm pacer who could be in line for a memorable Test debut, as reported earlier by TimesofIndia.com. Called up as injury cover, Kamboj has had a whirlwind few days, joining the team on Saturday, meeting Manchester United players on Sunday, and bowling full tilt in Monday’s net session.
Poll
Is Liam Dawson’s inclusion a good decision by the England selectors?
He impressed the coaching staff, including Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar, with his accuracy and relentless line and length against top-order batters like KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
India’s pace attack has been hit by fitness issues, with Akash Deep still recovering from a groin strain and Arshdeep Singh ruled out due to a hand injury. This leaves Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Prasidh Krishna, and Kamboj as the available seam options. Prasidh’s limited involvement with the new ball during practice hints at a possible debut for Kamboj.Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant has resumed wicketkeeping duties during practice, looking comfortable despite minor discomfort in his left hand. His return behind the stumps is a major boost for India. However, Akash Deep’s fitness test did not go as hoped, making his participation in the Test unlikely.With both teams facing selection puzzles, the Old Trafford Test promises to be a high-stakes encounter as England aim to level the series.
