Spin King Liam Determined Not To Be England's Forgotten Man

SPORT can be a fickle business. Just ask Liam Dawson.

- Richard Edwards

Back in October, the 29-year-old was handed a golden opportunity to press his claim for a World Cup place on the one-day leg of England’s Sri Lanka tour.

Having watched the rainfall in the opening match of the series, Dawson then took 1-26 from six tidy overs as England won the second courtesy of Messrs Duckworth and Lewis.

Less than 48 hours later he would be on a plane home after a side strain ruled him out of the rest of the series. He was replaced by Joe Denly who this week won a place in England’s World Cup squad.

Dawson’s name, meanwhile, was nowhere to be seen, despite an excellent start to the season with Hampshire.

At the age of 29, it’s possible that Dawson may never have another opportunity to play in another one, although the same goes for a growing number of cricketers who might otherwise have walked into an England one-day side of yesteryear.

Something Jofra Archer has also found in the past few days.

“I’ve obviously played a lot of Twenty20 cricket this winter and I haven’t really thought too much about the World Cup,” he tells The Cricket Paper.

“Moeen has obviously done a great job with the ball for England, he has been exceptional over the past couple of years.