Liam Dawson claims that because to his lucrative SA20
contract, which conflicts with the five-match series, accepting a call-up for
England’s Test tour of India at the beginning of 2024 would not be simple.
Dawson earned his Test debut during the 2016 India
tour and only made two more appearances against South Africa in 2017. However,
given his outstanding performances with both the bat and the ball for Hampshire
this summer, selectors are set to give Dawson a chance in the new year. He
established his all-around credentials with 840 first-class runs at 40.00,
including three centuries, the last of which, in the penultimate round at
Chelmsford, set up a thrilling win over Essex that all but ended the title race
in Surrey’s favour. His left-arm spin took 49 Division One wickets at an
average of 20.00 with four five-wicket hauls.
England lacks spinning options to complement Jack
Leach, who is presently recovering from a back stress fracture, given Moeen
Ali’s retirement and Adil Rashid’s focus on playing only white-ball cricket.
Although Dawson is a strong prospect to take one of those positions, a
pre-signed contract with Sunrisers Eastern Cape makes things more difficult.
His contract with the franchise is believed to be
around £150,000, which is greater than the £100,000 he would receive for
participating in all five Test matches. The first two Test matches in Hyderabad
and Vizag coincide with the SA20’s January 10 to February 10 dates.
Dawson has only made 17 appearances to date, but he is
still in England’s limited-overs plans. He wasn’t a player on the team that won
the 2019 World Cup, but he is one of the non-traveling reserves for the
upcoming 50-over competition, which gets underway on Thursday in Ahmedabad
against New Zealand.
Asked if accepting a Test call-up would be a
straightforward decision, he replied: “To be honest, probably no. I am 33
now. I am very realistic that I am not always going to play for England. At the
minute I am going to South Africa, but if things change I will have to make a
decision.
“The game is changing massively and everybody
that is involved in the game understands that. Financially it is something at
my age that I will have to consider, that will be a big decision.
“I have no idea if I’m in the mix for it. I have
already signed in South Africa for the SA20, so that is my plan at the minute.
If something changes, that is a decision I am going to have to think
about.”