Dawson, 36, took 380 wickets and scored 18 a whole bunch throughout a profession that spanned 20 seasons. He was named males’s Participant of the 12 months on the Skilled Cricketers‘ Affiliation awards in 2024, in addition to General Home MVP and County Championship Participant of the 12 months, earlier than successful a return to the England Check facet final summer season after an eight-year absence.
Nonetheless, after that includes in 4 of Hampshire’s first 5 Championship video games at first of the 2026 season, with restricted success, Dawson has determined to step away from red-ball cricket. He’ll proceed to play within the limited-overs codecs for Hampshire, and with Manchester Originals within the Hundred, and will delay his white-ball profession with England after that includes on the T20 World Cup earlier this yr.
„I’ve determined to retire from first-class cricket,“ Dawson stated. „It is a choice that I have not taken calmly however I really feel for the advantage of prolonging my profession in white-ball cricket, the time is true.
„I am extraordinarily proud to have performed over 200 video games for Hampshire and have had some superb reminiscences with so many gamers through the years. I am totally dedicated to enjoying white-ball cricket for Hampshire and persevering with the success we have had.
„To the followers and members who’ve turned out through the years, I can not thanks sufficient to your help. Hampshire will at all times be my residence, and I stay up for enjoying in entrance of you all at Utilita Bowl very quickly.“
Dawson made his Check debut on the 2016-17 tour of India, scoring 66 not out in his first innings, in Chennai. He briefly wore the mantle of England’s No. 1 spinner in two appearances towards South Africa the next summer season, however didn’t make one other look in whites till successful a recall for the 2025 Previous Trafford Check towards India.
He claimed a wicket with the seventh ball of his comeback, however completed the match with figures of 1 for 140 as India escaped with a draw and was subsequently ignored for England’s Ashes touring get together.
In between occasions, he was an everyday member of the white-ball set-up, gathering a World Cup winner’s medal as a squad member in 2019. Dawson was additionally a travelling reserve as England lifted the 2022 T20 World Cup, nevertheless it wasn’t till final yr that he nailed down a beginning function within the T20 facet, turning into virtually ever-present within the run in to the 2026 version.
For Hampshire, he scored greater than 10,000 first-class runs – solely Robin Smith, Jimmy Adams and James Vince have tallied extra within the twenty first century – to go together with 361 wickets in 211 first-class appearances. He has additionally helped the membership to win six white-ball trophies, together with all three of Hampshire’s T20 titles.
Giles White, Hampshire’s director of cricket, stated: „Liam has been an impressive servant to Hampshire Cricket. To have performed over 200 first-class video games for this county speaks volumes about his dedication and high quality.
„He leaves an enormous gap within the staff and shall be laborious to switch, particularly for the rest of this Championship season. He’s the one Hampshire participant of the trendy period to symbolize the membership in over 200 first-class appearances, which underlines simply how uncommon an achievement that’s at this degree.
„We help Liam’s choice and are delighted he stays totally dedicated to the white-ball sport. He has been integral to the success we have in-built that format, and now we have little question he’ll proceed to be a match winner for Hampshire for years to come back. He stays a vastly necessary a part of our plans.“
