LIAM Dawson was awaiting the verdict on whether he would retain his place in England’s Test line-up after coach Trevor Bayliss joined the critics of his own team following their alarming 340-run defeat against South Africa at Trent Bridge on Monday.

Bayliss was considering changes to England’s unconvincing top order for the Oval Test next week after describing the performance, in Joe Root’s second Test as captain, as a “shocker”.

Dawson was left stranded on a second-innings score of five as England were humiliated in the second Test, batting just over 96 overs for their 20 wickets.

A fourth-day collapse saw them skittled for just 133 in addition to a first innings effort of 205 as they lost for the sixth time in eight Tests to leave the four-match series poised at 1-1.

Keaton Jennings, who made a century on debut in Mumbai last winter, has mustered only 44 runs in four Test innings so far this summer - including nought and three in Nottingham.

All-rounder Dawson’s place could be under threat should England consider including a further specialist batsman, although the Calne man did trap South Africa danger man Hashim Amla in the Proteas’ second innings, following a four-wicket haul in the first Test win at Lord’s.