Dawson vows to take back control

Liam Dawson has admitted he is currently a better white than red-ball cricketer, but nevertheless hopes he can help England retain control in the field if he is selected for the Test team in India.

Dawson confesses he was “very surprised” to be called-up to replace the injured Zafar Ansari in England’s Test squad in India. But, while he claimed a modest-looking 22 Championship wickets during the 2016 season, Dawson feels he fulfilled a valuable role for his Hampshire side and is confident he can replicate it with England.

Specifically, despite bowling on surfaces that generally offered him little, he conceded only 2.85 runs per over and contributed over 600 runs with the bat at an average of 33.89. Combined with his experience of bowling under pressure in limited-overs cricket, Dawson feels he “offers some control with the ball.” Certainly Dawson is a much more accomplished bowler than the one that was carted for five sixes in succession (and off the first five balls of an over; the final one cost only a single) by Ben Stokes in a County Championship game in 2011.

“I’d admit my white-ball cricket is a lot stronger than my red-ball cricket,” Dawson said. “But I’ve played a lot of red-ball cricket and I feel I’m still improving in that area. If I get the opportunity, hopefully I’ll offer some control with the ball. That’s what I do with Hampshire. That’s all I can do if selected for …

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