Dawson keen to prove England worth

Hampshire all-rounder Liam Dawson Picture: Sarah Standing

Dawson is fighting with Adil Rashid to play as the side’s spinner in the only Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka.

Hampshire’s highest run scorer and wicket-taker, with 149 runs and seven wickets respectively in the Natwest T20 Blast, was forced to watch England’s T20 World Cup run to the final from the sideines.

But he insisted it is now his time to prove his is an international star. ‘I’d love to play but who knows what team they will go with.’ Dawson said.

‘To be involved with the squad again is very pleasing for me and if I did get the chance to play I will give it my best and do what I do for Hampshire.

‘Until you play you can’t judge yourself as an international cricketer.

‘That isn’t something I have done and wouldn’t know until I get given the chance.

‘In the nets and in training you see how good they are in person. They work hard and they are that much better.

‘Their skills are much better and more consistent. The batsmen are better than domestic cricketers and that is why they play for England.

‘Some people are good enough and some fall just short and until you play you are not sure – you always think you are good enough.’

Dawson has grown up with the England set-up, after captaining the under 19s and impressing for the Lions.

Now Dawson wants to make his mark on the senior side, with the next rung on his career ladder making his Twenty20 debut and then getting an ODI call-up.

‘I’d like to think the next step is to get into the ODI squad,’ he said.

‘I’ve had another good start in 50-over cricket for Hampshire and a good couple of seasons in that format.

‘I would love to be part of the limited overs squad but the team they’ve got is a very hard team to get into.

‘All I can keep doing is keep doing well for Hampshire, and if I keep doing that then I hope the opportunity will come up.’

Despite his economical left-arm bowling, Dawson still sees himself as a bat wielder.

He added: ‘I still see my batting as my number one priority and my bowling is my second string.

‘In one day cricket I like to say they are just as good as each other, whereas my batting is a bigger strength – although I still see myself as an all-rounder.

‘I’ve improved my bowling in the last two or three years and as long as I keep improving and trying to improve that is all I can do.’