The England cricket team on Monday announced their playing XI for the 4th Test against India in Manchester which is scheduled to start on Wednesday. The hosts made one change to their team which was forced as off-spinner Liam Dawson replaced the injured Shoaib Bashir.
Bashir was ruled out of the remainder of the England vs India Test series on Monday due to a finger fracture which he sustained during the third match at Lord’s, which his side won to take a 2-1 lead.
“England men’s spinner Shoaib Bashir has sustained a fracture to his left finger and has been ruled out of the remainder of the Rothesay Test series against India. He is scheduled to undergo surgery later this week. England will name their squad for the fourth Test at Emirates Old Trafford in the next couple of days,” the ECB said a couple of weeks ago.
Our XI for the fourth Test is here 📋
One change from Lord’s 👊
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 21, 2025
Bashir sustained injury to his little finger of his left hand on the third day of the Lord’s Test while bowling to Ravindra Jadeja, who hit a powerful low drive straight back to the bowler. He bowled just 5.5 overs in India’s second innings, but had the honour of ending the visiting side’s run chase of 193, scalping the wicket of last batter Mohammed Siraj as England notched a memorable 22-run win.
Dawson, meanwhile, last played Test cricket for England in July 2017 and will be looking to make his comeback after eight long years. The 35-year-old has been a consistent performer for Hampshire over several years and was named PCA Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
Earlier, ECB had also released pacers Sam Cook and Jamie Overton, both of whom have returned to their respective counties to play in the County Championship.
England lead India 2-1 in the 5-match Test series with the hosts winning the 1st and the 3rd Tests at Leeds and Lord’s respectively while the visitors clawed one win back at Edgbaston.
England Playing 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
