DOB: 4.8.80 County: Yorkshire Test debut: 1st Test v India, Mohali 2001 Right arm off-spin bowler, right hand batsman

Dawson follows fellow off-spinners Graeme Swann (1999 to South Africa) and Jason Brown (2001 to Sri Lanka) into an England tour party after playing just 10 first-class games.

But he contributed 30 wickets in nine games to Yorkshire's first County Championship success for 33 years and hopes are high that he will rise to the challenge of bowling in the sub-continent, where the only spinners to thrive are those of genuine ability.

A former member of the British Universities side, Dawson stands 6ft 4ins tall and has quickly learnt the attributes of control and flight.

India was seen as the ideal environment to continue his cricketing education and he responded by taking a creditable six wickets in the series, including a four-wicket haul on debut.