Liam Dawson retires from first-class cricket

With immediate effect, Liam Dawson has ended his first-class career, which included more than 200 appearances for Hampshire in the red-ball league. The 36-year-old all-rounder said the decision was made to extend his career in shorter formats and that he will continue to play for Hampshire in white-ball cricket. Dawson took seven wickets in four County Championship matches this season before getting hurt and missing Hampshire's big loss to Glamorgan. Dawson, an all-rounder with a left-arm spinner, finishes the first-class game with 10828 runs and more than 380 wickets. Only Robin Smith, Jimmy Adams and James Vince have scored more first-class runs for Hampshire in the 21st century. Dawson also played in four England Tests, including a surprise appearance against India in 2025 at Old Trafford. Across his first-class career, he registered 17 centuries and 54 fifties, with a highest score of 171 against Kent in 2022. "It wasn't an easy decision, but I felt the time was right," Dawson said in a statement released by Hampshire. "I'm proud to have represented Hampshire for so long and look forward to continuing in white-ball cricket." Giles White, the director of cricket for Hampshire, acknowledged that Dawson's absence would leave a significant void in the Championship team and described him as "an outstanding servant" to the club. Dawson was left out of England's squad for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's shortly before the announcement.