Liam Dawson unfazed by Ashes snub: I've not expected to play Test cricket for a long time

Dawson hasn't played Test cricket since 2017 but found himself in the running for a possible recall after Jack Leach was ruled out of the Ashes with a lower back stress fracture. England opted for Moeen Ali instead

Hampshire spinner Liam Dawson is unfazed by his Ashes snub, insisting he hasn't "expected to play Test cricket for a long time".

Dawson made his Test debut for England against India in December 2016 and went on to earn three caps in the format, scoring 84 runs, including one half-century, and taking seven wickets at 42.57.

His most recent outing for the Test side came in July 2017 but he found himself in the running for a recall at the beginning of June when first choice spinner, Jack Leach, broke down with a lower back stress fracture.

However, England captain Ben Stokes instead opted to turn to Moeen Ali, despite the allrounder retiring from Test cricket and not playing a first-class match since September 2021.

^{Dawson hasn't played Test cricket since July 2017 [Stu Forster/Getty Images]}

^{Moeen Ali was called up to replace Jack Leach but struggled with blisters [Ryan Pierse/Getty Images]}

Moeen returned match figures of 3 for 204 at Edgbaston but struggled with blisters on his index finger, resulting in teenage spinner Rehan Ahmed being called up to the squad ahead of the Lord's Test.

As for Dawson, he is simply enjoying plying his trade for Hampshire in the County Championship.

"It doesn't really affect me," he said. "I've not expected to play Test cricket for a long time.

"To me, if it happens then brilliant; if not, then it doesn't bother me. I'm enjoying my cricket here at Hampshire and if I do well here then no idea what happens."

Dawson has played 183 matches across his first-class career, scoring over 8,500 runs at 32 and taking 257 wickets in 34.07.

This season, he has picked up 10 wickets at 23.20 while an unbeaten century on day one of Hampshire's clash with Northamptonshire has taken him past 350 first-class runs in 2023.