HAMPSHIRE all-rounder Liam Dawson believes the pink ball creates boring cricket.

Dawson (53) passed fifty in the Specsavers County Championship for the first time this season after digging in against Somerset.

He helped put on 84 in 34.2 overs for the first wicket before Jimmy Adams (47) was caught at slip against Craig Overton.

“If you look at the score we were 80 for none but we didn’t score quickly,” said Dawson, who faced 139 balls and scored four fours. 

“If you are prepared to be quite boring I think that is what we are going to have to do. We are short of runs.

“It is the sort of wicket you can be boring and take the game deep.”

Dawson’s first impressions of day/night Championship cricket were not favourable after Hampshire made 211-9d, having collapsed to 172-7.

“The crowds haven’t changed, we haven’t had any more people in.

“It is early days and it is something that might work.

“From my first experience of it, I think they need to have a good look at what balls they are going to use.

“If you are going to keep on using those balls then you are going to get some pretty boring cricket.

“It just goes very soft, very quickly.

“We are behind the game but this is a new game for everyone and if we get a few quick wickets then who knows what will happen.”

Somerset fast bowler Overton said: “The ball was strange. It swings and then goes really soft. It didn’t really do much.”