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Liam Dawson's cricket column: I was a little disappointed to be left out of the starting XI yesterday for our County Championship game at Somerset, although I'm pleased my mate Hamza Riazuddin made his debut.

I was told I would play if it was dry because the ball would turn on the flat wicket at Taunton, I would have had Hamza's place.

But in the end I was 12th man because it was a bit wet.

Fellow Wiltshire lad James Tomlinson did superbly to take eight wickets for us, getting Justin Langer and Marcus Trescothick out.

Then we managed to bowl them out for 126.

After the first day's play we were 194 for three, with Kevin Pieterson getting 100 and John Crawley making 78 not out.

I was the water boy again, it's all I've been doing lately.

The boys take the mick and give me a bit of banter but I'd rather have that than have no-one speaking to me.

It was nice to get a game for Wiltshire a couple of weeks ago and I took a couple of wickets in their win.

But I couldn't play in their last game, which I was disappointed to see they lost, because I was in the squad for Hampshire's game with Gloucestershire...as 12th man again.

It's good fun travelling to away games with the Hampshire lads, and I went for an Indian with Paul Terry, Kevin Pieterson, David Griffiths and James Tomlinson on Tuesday night when we arrived in Somerset.

It was good to speak to Pieterson and learn a few things from him, he was chatting about his career, England and what it's like to play at the highest level.

So it was great to take that on board.

I had hoped he would pay considering the money he's on but he didn't - we all split the bill.

Away games feel sort of like a mini holiday because you're with your mates, but you're also doing your job at the same time.

There aren't too many rules. You can go to the bar few a few drinks at night, go to bed whenever you want or even go for a night out.

As long as you are fit to turn up at 9.30am the next day, that's all they care about.

But the lads are all professional so the only time you really go out is if you win a game a day early, then you might go and let your hair down.

Hamza is my roommate for the Somerset game. He's a bit of a space cadet, in that he's in his own world most of the time.

But he's a good lad and I'm pleased he had a good debut yesterday.

He got Ian Blackwell out and bowled well, so I'm pleased for him.

I just hope I can pinch his place in the team in the next few weeks!

11:19am Thursday 8th May 2008

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