Liam Dawson: My Top Five Moments Of 2019

From an incredible World Cup triumph to outstanding domestic performances, 2019 was certainly a year to remember for Hampshire all-rounder Liam Dawson. And we asked him to name his top five moments from the summer that was in 2019.

1) World Cup Selection

“Number one would have to be being selected for England’s World Cup squad. I wasn’t in the initial squad until just before the World Cup but I had a good One-Day Cup campaign for Hampshire and that got me in the final 15 so that was brilliant."

2) Winning the World Cup

“To win the World Cup and to experience the atmosphere and the buzz of playing a global tournament in your home country, although I didn’t play, that’s something that not everyone gets to do and I feel very lucky to have been a part of the squad and experience winning the World Cup.”

3) Kyle Abbott Breaks Records

“Kyle Abbott’s 17 wickets here at the The Ageas Bowl against Somerset in the County Championship would have to be number three. We were ahead of the game for the majority of the match, but then they had a fantastic opening partnership in the second innings and were 80-0. The way Kyle turned the game around, to get the ball reverse-swinging the way he did and to then push us to win so convincingly, that was my third best moment of the summer.

“We worked so hard the whole game and I think we were 25-5 on day one so we were massively behind but thankfully Vincey and myself got hundreds each to put us in a better position. When they fought back needing 200 to win at lunch on day three and you realise that all that hard work could be undone, it was relief to win the game from that position.”

4) Low-Scoring Vitality Blast Clash Against Glamorgan

“I think when we defended 128 against Glamorgan here at the The Ageas Bowl was another highlight. It was a very hard wicket and to go out there and defend the total the way we did in front of a brilliant crowd and bowl them out for 87 in a low-scoring game, was a great effort from everyone.”

5) An 11-Year Championship High

“To finish third in the Championship from where we have been the last few years – everyone knows we haven’t been as good as we’ve wanted to be in that time – and to show signs that we are improving massively was a big highlight. Also having younger players come in and do so well, particularly Felix and Dutchy opening the batting which is very tough, was important for us and the whole campaign showed that we’ve made real progress.”