T20 World Cup 2026: ‘We’re all very different types of spinners’ - Liam Dawson anticipates new challenge against Pakistan

Liam Dawson claimed figures of 2 for 27 against Sri Lanka on Sunday, February 22, and credited England’s bowling variety as a key factor behind their success. England currently boast a strong spin quartet featuring veteran Adil Rashid, Will Jacks, Dawson, and part-time spinner Jacob Bethell.

At the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium against co-hosts Sri Lanka, Jacks delivered an impressive spell of 3 for 22, dominating the Sri Lankan batters. England have been in excellent form, having played four T20Is in the past four weeks and winning all four against Sri Lanka. At this venue, Jacks and Rashid have taken seven wickets each, while Dawson has picked up six and Bethell has claimed four.

"We're all very different types of spinners. Jacksy gets a lot of overspin and a lot of bounce. Dilly [Rashid] has all his variations. Me - I sort of don't get the bounce that the other two get. It will be a different challenge on Tuesday night [against Pakistan]. We might get a better batting wicket. We'll have to see,” said Dawson as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Dawson stated that the surface for the upcoming clash against Pakistan is likely to be better suited for batting. The Pallekele is generally known for producing higher-scoring games compared to the tracks in Colombo. The left-arm spinner also revealed that he was prepared to bowl during the powerplay in the previous match, although Jacks eventually took on that responsibility. Dawson further added that Pallekele is a venue that rewards variety in spin bowling.

"The beauty of this ground is that you can bowl whenever and be versatile. We've got four good spinners, with Bethell. And we've exploited conditions here in the past. If it's a much better wicket on Tuesday, we might need different plans and to work differently. I think we're all very experienced as spinners. Adil and I have played a lot of cricket, and Jacks has as well. It's probably only Bethell who has a little less experience when it comes to bowling,” said Dawson.

England captain Harry Brook expressed strong confidence in his spin attack, backing them to deliver under pressure. Dawson admitted that England felt they were 15-20 runs short with the bat. That belief proved justified as England’s spinners dismantled Sri Lanka’s batting lineup, claiming seven wickets between them. Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for just 95.

"I think the way Harry Brook captained against Sri Lanka was phenomenal - he used us all differently. There's a lot of trust in the guys to go and execute,” said Dawson.