Hampshire spinner Liam Dawson has stated he will not "overthink" his prospects of returning to England's Test side as he concentrates on preparing for his maiden T20 World Cup appearance at the age of 35.
Test Career and Current Focus
Dawson, who has played just four Test matches since making his debut a decade ago in 2016, insists his immediate attention is firmly on the upcoming global tournament rather than challenging for a regular red-ball role. His most recent Test appearance came during last summer's fourth match against India, but he was subsequently overlooked for England's Ashes tour of Australia.
"It's not something I've overly thought about," Dawson explained regarding Test selection. "Obviously got the World Cup to focus on first, domestic cricket in England, see how that goes and then see where we end up."
World Cup Opportunity After Previous Near Misses
The left-arm spinner was selected in England's 2016 T20 World Cup squad but never featured in a match, and has twice served as a travelling reserve for major tournaments. This time, he is set to play a significant role in England's spin attack when the competition begins against Nepal in Mumbai on February 9.
"Obviously the older you get, sometimes you don't expect to be involved," Dawson added. "I'm 35 but it's been amazing to be back involved. Obviously the World Cup is going to be a really cool occasion if selected to play and really looking forward to that."
Test Spinner Vacancy
England's Test spinning position remains notably open after 22-year-old Shoaib Bashir was taken to the Ashes as the premier spinner but was left out of all five Tests, with all-rounder Will Jacks instead providing spin options. This creates a potential opportunity for English spinners to stake their claim, though Dawson is not currently focusing on this pathway.
"(The Ashes was) not something I overly thought," he said regarding his omission. "I played that one Test match and you can't control selection at times, but it's something I didn't really overthink."
Current Form and ODI Success
Dawson remains a key component of England's white-ball setup and has impressed during the ongoing ODI series in Sri Lanka, which stands level at 1-1 ahead of Tuesday's decisive match. England recently ended an 11-match away losing streak in ODIs with victory in the second match on Saturday, where captain Harry Brook deployed six spinners on a challenging wicket.
"I really enjoyed (that Test)," Dawson reflected on his last red-ball appearance. "It was enjoyable to play it again."
Challenges for English Spinners
The Hampshire bowler acknowledged the difficulties facing English spinners, noting that the 50-over competition has been marginalised by the Hundred during the summer months, while English conditions often favour seam bowling over spin.
"I really enjoy 50-over cricket," Dawson said. "I was lucky enough to play a hell of a lot of it when I was younger. The age I'm at, we grew up with 50-over cricket. We've managed to play a lot of that. It's a format I really enjoy."
He added: "It's probably a lot weaker than what it used to be, that competition. I think in England you've grown up to sometimes be the back-up for the seamers on seamer-friendly conditions. But you still have a job to do in that. You try and hold an end sometimes. It's not all doom and gloom in England bowling spin. You do get a couple of good venues."
Squad Preparations
England's T20 World Cup squad members, including fast bowler Jofra Archer, have now joined the group in Sri Lanka. Archer is not expected to feature in the upcoming T20 series against Sri Lanka beginning in Kandy on Friday, having missed the final two Ashes Tests with a side strain.
Dawson expressed enthusiasm about the approaching tournament: "Exciting to go to a World Cup and play there. Hopefully we can win tomorrow and build some confidence."
