LIAM Dawson may be flying out to India for the start of the ICC World Twenty20 next Tuesday but he has not forgotten his roots, according to those closest to him.

The Hampshire all-rounder, who turned 26 last weekend, was selected for England's 15-man squad after impressing with the England Lions this winter.

Dawson will fly with the rest of the squad on Tuesday, March 8, the same day the qualifying stage beings, with England facing Sri Lanka, West Indies and a successful qualifier in group one.

However, those who have seen him develop at Goatacre Cricket Club are proud to call him one of their own.

“He is still the same lad he was and he has not changed, and he is certainly somebody to be proud of,” said dad Andy.

“To say that Goatacre have got that and for him to come back and play when he can is fantastic.

“It’s something that you hope for as a parent and he has always had those ambitions to play international cricket, and fair play to the lad - he has managed to get so far.

“He has still got to play a game and has still got to make that breakthrough, but to make it into the squad is fantastic. He can’t do any more than he is doing. He can only impress the right people and then take things from there.”

Goatacre club chairman John Wilkins, who remembers Dawson from an early age, recalled a time last summer when the 26-year-old returned from Chelmsford to Keynsham one morning just to help out his hometown club.

“You don’t hear of many professional sportsmen coming back to play for their club and putting themselves out,” he said. “We’re very proud to be associated with him because he is such a nice lad.

"He has never lost that side of him. He is a great lad and deserves every success.”