England call up uncapped opening batsman Keaton Jennings and all-rounder Liam Dawson to replace injured pair Haseeb Hameed and Zafar Ansari
Hameed faced 156 balls with a shattered finger but has now been forced home along with Surrey spinner, who has a back injury
ENGLAND have called up batsman Keaton Jennings and all-rounder Liam Dawson as replacements for their crisis-hit tour of India.
Durham opener Jennings is summoned after 19-year-old Lancashire batsman Haseeb Hameed was forced home with a shattered left little finger.
And Hampshire left-armer spinner and batsman Dawson comes in for Surrey’s Zafar Ansari, who is out the tour with a back injury.
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Ansari will continue to receive medical treatment but will not play again on tour and is due to return home on December 8.
Jennings has not been part of an England squad before – but has a good chance of being Alastair Cook’s latest opening partner in the Fourth Test in Mumbai on December 8.
Jennings will fly to India from the UAE, where he will play for the England Lions on Thursday before linking up with the senior squad on December 5.
Dawson is currently playing in the Bangladesh Premier League but is also due to spend some time with the Lions before arriving in India.
Head coach Trevor Bayliss and captain Cook hope the duo will provide a boost and additional selection options with England 2-0 down in the series with two matches to play.
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Cook is under the spotlight after back-to-back defeats, some curious tactical decisions and his woeful form with the bat in the Third Test defeat by eight wickets.
Left-hander Jennings, 24, was born in Johannesburg and is the son of former South Africa coach Ray Jennings. His mother is from Sunderland and he qualifies for England through a four-year residency.
He was the leading scorer in the county championship last summer with 1,548 runs including seven centuries.
Dawson, 26, has been involved with England’s white ball teams but has yet to play a Test match.
He is lucky to be chosen ahead of Somerset’s Jack Leach, who took 65 first-class wickets last summer at an average of 21.
Most players fly to Dubai on Thursday for a four-day break with their families and loved ones before returning to India.
Meanwhile, an X-ray has discovered what England medics describe as a ‘tiny crack’ in Chris Woakes’ right thumb, which he sustained while batting in the Third Test.
He is expected to be fit for the Fourth Test.