Liam Dawson has revealed England’s disappointment after the two agonising defeats to Sri Lanka and Pakistan that have left making the ODI tri-series final in serious doubt. “That changing room is gutted, we’re desperate to win,” he said.
To reach the final, England need Pakistan to beat Sri Lanka on Tuesday and then they have to thrash Sri Lanka on Thursday, but Dawson is optimistic the losses can help them in the World Cup in 12 months’ time in southern Africa.
“If you look at the last two games, we’ve been in positions where we should have won, so that is a massive positive as a group,” he said. “To lose those two games from a position we’re in is frustrating because we should have won those games.
“If, in a year’s time, we do get to those situations again and bank on our previous experiences then we’ll look back at this tri-series as a huge positive.”
The 36-year-old said he is not drawing any conclusions from usurping Adil Rashid. For more than a decade, the leg-spinner has been the No 1 spinner for England in white-ball formats and he needs 26 more dismissals to become their all-time leading one-day wicket-taker.
After missing September’s home series win over Sri Lanka because of an injury, Rashid has been overlooked for the defeats to Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
The explanation given is Dawson’s skiddy slow left-armers are more suited to the conditions in Rawalpindi and Lahore, with Rashid expensive in his only tournament outing against Pakistan last week .
In Rashid’s absence, Dawson has impressed, but a bowling unit light on experience has been exposed as England let seemingly surefire wins slip away.
The former England captain Nasser Hussain told Sky Sports last week that Rashid’s recent performances had “dropped off”, although Dawson believes the double World Cup winner remains a stellar operator.
“I don’t think I can be compared to Adil, he’s a phenomenal bowler,” he said. “You don’t play 165 ODIs and become a bad bowler. I don’t think you can compare us at all because we’re so different in our roles in the team. He’s a fantastic bowler, he’s been exceptional for England and I think he still will be.”
Without an express paceman or mystery spinner, England let Pakistan off the hook from 154 for nine chasing 242 in Lahore on Sunday as Shadab Khan and the No 11, Haris Rauf, sealed an extraordinary win for the hosts.
The pair’s 89-run stand set a record for the highest 10th-wicket partnership in a successful chase and came three days after England, despite Harry Brook smashing a double hundred, were unable to defend 429 against Sri Lanka
After being a fringe England player for much of his career, Dawson has established himself as a mainstay in the T20 side under Brook and is more involved in the ODI setup.
“Up until a year or so ago, I said to numerous people I didn’t think I’d play for England again,” he said. “I’ve really enjoyed the time I’ve had so far.
“ You’re desperate to do well, but each time I get to play for England is a really special thing. I didn’t think it would happen at the age I got to so to play the amount I have in the last year and contribute has been really pleasing and hopefully that can continue.”
Dawson retired from first-class cricket in May after 19 years with Hampshire and having played four Test matches, but he will not be reversing that decision even if approached by the new England Test head coach, Stephen Fleming. “Those days are gone,” he said.
