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Liam Dawson

Calne's Hampshire cricket starlet Liam Dawson writes exclusively for the Gazette.

It has been a bit of a mixed week for me.

I fielded as a sub for 140 overs in our County Championship draw with Somerset last week after Michael Brown dislocated his finger, which was a good experience.

I dropped Marcus Trescothick on 147 but luckily I was let off the hook as he only made another four runs.

It was a tough chance but I would have backed myself to take it.

But hey, life goes on.

I played on Sunday too in the Friends Provident Trophy against Worcestershire.

It was a 50 overs game and we got absolutely humiliated.

We were beaten by nine wickets so, it was embarrassing, so a few harsh truths were told in the dressing room afterwards.

I avoided most of the stick but we all deserved a rollicking.

We batted first and got 210 all out, I got nine before I was caught off Simon Jones.

In reply, they scored 211 off 27 overs for just one wicket, so it was a bit of a mauling.

And the coach was well within his rights to say what he did in the dressing.

I bowled three overs and took none for 23, I didn't bowl brilliantly then again it was a no-win situation. They were had been scoring at about 11 an over for 12 overs when I came on.

We had an inexperienced team out but we can't use that as an excuse. We're all professional cricketers and we were rubbish on the day.

We had a day off on Monday to try and forget it, because we can't keep getting whacked around the field all the time.

I'm going to London with the second team this week, we're playing Middlesex.

It's a little disappointing not being involved in the first team but at the end of the day I need to play some cricket, because I haven't played too much lately.

Seconds is still tough cricket, and it's a good chance for me because people who do consistently well in the seconds get picked for the first team.

Unfortunately I'm not allowed to play for Wiltshire this Sunday because Hampshire are expecting me to rest after the game.

But I know my mate James Vince is in the squad. I play with him at Hampshire, he's from Steeple Ashton.

He's a good lad and good luck to him, I hope he does well.

There's quite a few talented young lads coming through our academy so hopefully we'll all step up in the next few years and do the business.

I was pleased to see Goatacre win at the weekend to go through to the next round of the National Village Knockout Cup.

I've signed up for them this season so hopefully I will be able to get in one or two games before the end of the summer.

All my mates are there from when I was about 11 or 12, and my brother plays for their under 15s.

He's an off-spin bowler. If he could be bothered he has the potential to do what I have done, but cricket is not the be all and end all for him.

I don't think he really wants to put in all the hard work and dedication it takes to become a professional cricketer.

11:22am Thursday 15th May 2008

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