HAMPSHIRE and England all-rounder Liam Dawson has retired from First-Class cricket with immediate effect.
The 36 year old, who will continue to represent Hampshire across the Blast and One Day Cup, said he has retired from red-ball cricket to prolong his white-ball game.
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Dawson has played over 200 times for Hampshire in red-ball cricket , scoring 10,000 runs and taking more than 350 wickets.
He also featured four times in Test matches for England, for whom he scored an unbeaten 66 on debut in India.
“I’ve decided to retire from First-Class cricket,” Dawson announced in a statement published by Hampshire on Wednesday afternoon.
“It’s a decision that I haven’t taken lightly, but I feel for the benefit of prolonging my career in white-ball cricket, the time is right.
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“I’m extremely proud to have played over 200 games for Hampshire and have had some amazing memories with so many players over the years.
“I’m fully committed to playing white-ball cricket for Hampshire and continuing the success we’ve had.
“To the fans and members who have turned out over the years, I can’t thank you enough for your support.
“Hampshire will always be my home, and I look forward to playing in front of you all at Utilita Bowl very soon.”
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Dawson was awarded the PCA Men’s Player of the Year in 2024, becoming the first domestic player to win the award since 2018.
In the same season, he also won the PCA Men’s Domestic Overall MCP and the County Championship Player of the Year award.
Following his standout performances in 2024, Dawson was named as one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year, becoming the first Hampshire player to be included since Kevin Pietersen in 2006.
Of Hampshire players in the 21st century, only Robin Smith, Jimmy Adams, and James Vince have scored more runs than Dawson.
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Hampshire and England all-rounder Liam Dawson has retired from First-Class cricket. (Image: Dave Vokes/Hampshire Cricket)
He scored 54 half-centuries and 17 hundreds, with a career-best innings of 171 coming in Hampshire’s victory over Kent at Canterbury in 2022.
Giles White, director of cricket at Hampshire, said: “Liam has been an outstanding servant to Hampshire Cricket.
“To have played over 200 First Class games for this county speaks volumes about his dedication and quality.
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“He leaves a huge hole in the team and will be hard to replace, especially for the remainder of this Championship season.
“He is the only Hampshire player of the modern era to represent the club in over 200 First-Class appearances, which underlines just how rare an achievement that is at this level.
“We support Liam’s decision and are delighted he remains fully committed to the white-ball game. He has been integral to the success we’ve built in that format.
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“We have no doubt he will continue to be a match-winner for Hampshire for years to come. He remains a hugely important part of our plans.”
From 2023-2024, Dawson had a remarkable purple patch with both bat and ball.
He scored 1,796 runs across the two Championship campaigns, with nine fifties and six centuries, and took 103 wickets at an average of 22.69 with eight five-wicket hauls.
Against Middlesex at Utilita Bowl in 2023, Dawson became the first Hampshire player to score a century and take ten wickets in the match since CB Llewellyn in 1903; Dawson then repeated the feat against Lancashire at Old Trafford a year later.
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Across his County Championship career, Dawson finished runners-up in 2024 and third in 2022.
He helped the club gain promotion from Division Two in 2014, with the club remaining in Division One since then – a period of 11 consecutive years in the top flight.
