Jennings and Dawson to join England squad

30 Nov 2016 | Cricket
England have bolstered their Test squad for the final two Test matches against India by calling up opener Keaton Jennings and spinner Liam Dawson.

The pair will link up with Alastair Cook's side in time for the third Test in Mumbai and replace 19-year-old Haseeb Hameed, who needs surgery on a fractured finger, and Surrey's Zafar Ansari, who has a back injury. 

Jennings had a stellar season for Durham in Division One of the Specsavers County Championship, finishing top of the run charts with 1,548 at an average of 64.5. He scored seven hundreds, including one double.

The 24-year-old is currently with the England Lions squad and is set to make his debut against the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, as captain of the side. Subject to visa approval, he is due to arrive in India on December 5.

Hameed is set to return home for surgery on a fractured little finger picked up in the defeat in Mohali. The youngster battled through the pain to score 59 not out in England's second innings. He scored 219 runs in his three Tests at an average of 43.80.

Hampshire's Dawson made his England debut in July in a T20 international with Sri Lanka, taking 3-27 from his four overs on his home ground at the Ageas Bowl. His maiden ODI followed against Pakistan in September.

The left arm spinner is currently playing for Rangpur Riders in the Bangladesh Premier League having been named in the original Lions squad. The 24-year-old had a breakthrough winter with the Lions against Pakistan A in UAE last winter.

Dawson replaces Ansari in the squad after the Surrey all-rounder suffered a back injury during the second Test in Visakhapatnam. He'll continue to be treated by England's medical staff before flying home on December 8.