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Hampshire all-rounder Liam Dawson has signed a new multi-format deal that will keep him at the Utilita Bowl for another three years.
Dawson, 34, has represented Hampshire 491 times across all formats and won four trophies with the club.
“I’m delighted to be able to play for another three years,” he told BBC Radio Solent.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can achieve as a group and pass on my experience to the younger players.
“I feel like I’m playing some really good cricket at the moment. Age is just a number, so I’m not too worried about that.”
Dawson made his first-class debut for Hampshire in 2007 and has remained at the county ever since.
He made his maiden first-class century at 18, becoming the youngest player to score a hundred for Hampshire.
He has gone on to play for England 20 times in all three formats, and was part of the squad that won the Cricket World Cup in 2019.
Hampshire narrowly missed out on the County Championships last season when they finished as runners-up.
Dawson will now aim to help Hampshire topple a Surrey side that have won the red-ball competition three years in a row.
“Surrey have been the standout team and fair play to them,” he said.
“To win it three years in a row, they’re going to be massive favourites again to win it. There’s some strong teams in Division One, but we are as well.
“Hopefully in the three years that I have ahead of me we can continue to challenge and maybe win it.”
Vince will be a ‘massive loss’ for Hampshire
Getty ImagesOne man that will not be competing in this coming season’s County Championship is star man James Vince.
The right-handed batter announced that he will only play white-ball cricket for Hampshire in 2025 as he looks to explore other franchise cricket options abroad.
Vince and Dawson have been friends since a young age and have spent many years playing together.
“I’m very happy for him and the decision he’s made,” Dawson told BBC Radio Solent.
“He obviously wants to go down the white-ball route.
“I don’t think that the decisions the ECB (The England and Wales Cricket Board) have made regarding NOC’s (No-Objection Certificates) made it overly easy for him and other players that want to play in this league.
“He’s not going to be the only player to do this, a lot more are going to follow.
“I think it’s partly their (the ECB’s) own fault for doing that, but it is what it is. I think he’ll be a massive loss for us, He’s been our best player for a number of years.
“But good luck to him. He’s not getting any younger and hopefully he can continue to play around the world and dominate like he does.”
