by Paul McNamara

Liam Dawson insists that it is high time Hampshire rediscovered the killer instinct required to win silverware.

Indeed, the 26-year-old, speaking days after having a front row seat as Carlos Brathwaite’s colossal hitting snatched World Twenty20 glory from England’s grasp, wants his county team to compete on all three domestic fronts this season.

And with Brathwaite’s West Indies’ international captain Darren Sammy due to line up in a Hampshire T20 middle order that will also feature Shahid Afridi, the Pakistani limited overs magician, Dawson believes the Ageas Bowl side can shrug off their recently acquired nearly-men tag, this year.

“We’re a big club,” said former England under-19 Test player Dawson. “Everyone who comes here enjoys playing here. We want to do well in every format we play in. We want to improve on our four-day cricket, because we have the squad to do it.

“In one-day cricket, we’ve been there or thereabouts the past few years, but we haven’t won the trophies that we should have. It’s all well and good being there, getting to finals days, but the time comes when you have to start winning things.”

Hampshire haven’t added to their trophy cabinet since 2012 when, in the space of three heady weeks, the county won the T20 Blast and CB40 competitions. They also grabbed the T20 crown in 2010, but have stumbled at the competition’s last-four stage in each of the past three seasons.

Now Dawson expects the additions of international heavyweights Sammy and Afridi, together with England limited overs bowler Reece Topley, signed from Essex, to give his team a timely boost in their pursuit of glory.

He said: “We’ve signed Darren Sammy, Shahid Afridi and Reece Topley, so that will give us an extra kick to go on and win a trophy.

“To have Darren Sammy come here and want to play for Hampshire, that says a lot for the club. It’s exciting to play with good international cricketers. You can only get better and learn in that environment.

“Sammy and Afridi, potentially batting at six and seven, there is a lot of firepower there. Teams will fear us even more.”

Despite not forcing his way into his country’s starting 11 in the world tournament in India, Dawson says his taste of life at the highest level has left him hungry for more – although the all-rounder expects his England involvement to be limited to the game’s shorter forms, for now..

“It was an unbelievable experience, being part of an international team,” said Dawson. “I’d love to be there again. But the only way I can do that is by doing well for Hampshire.

“I’m not going to put any extra pressure on myself. If it happens, it happens. All I can do is deliver consistent performances here.

“I’m probably more suited to one-day cricket at the minute. I’ve got more of a game for that.

“But there are a lot of opportunities in English cricket. All the players starting on Sunday will be thinking that if they consistently do well, then they’re not that far from playing for England. I’ll be looking to do that and so will everybody else.”

On that remarkable conclusion to the World T20 final, when Brathwaite, four times in succession, launched Ben Stokes deliveries high into the Kolkata night sky and over the Eden Gardens ropes to win the game for the Windies, Dawson simply doffs his metaphorical cap to the batsman.

He said: “It was a strange game. It got down to that last over and we were probably marginal favourites. But it’s a World Cup final and pressure does funny things. The way that Brathwaite batted was unbelievable. Anyone bowling that over would have found it tough.”

Dawson isn’t anticipating his own left-arm spin being utilised by his county skipper James Vince in early season seaming conditions, but he is working hard to reacclimatise to English conditions following his time on the subcontinent.

Furthermore, the man who became Hampshire’s youngest ever centurion when he hit Nottinghamshire for a ton at Trent Bridge in 2008, does not envisage his lack of pre-season game time causing him too many problems.

“I’ve had a couple of good nets across the past few days,” said Dawson, three days before Hampshire host Warwickshire in their Championship curtain raiser.

“The main thing is getting used to the wickets again. India is very different to Southampton in April!

“But I’ve had enough pre-seasons now to know what to expect. It’s just a case of getting into the nets in the days leading up to the first game and getting used to the conditions.

“I’m experienced enough to know that you have to hit the ground running from day one. It might be a little bit tough. But I’ve trained well the last couple of days and I’ve still got two more days to go, so hopefully come Sunday everything goes well.”

Dawson was kept up to speed by teammates on the stellar pre-season form of Hampshire’s burgeoning crop of highly-rated youngsters.

And the Swindon born player is tipping Mason Crane to shine again this year, after the 19-year-old leg-spinner’s impact in his debut campaign saw him named last season’s Ageas Bowl breakthrough player of the year.

“I haven’t been around during pre-season but, from what the lads have been saying, some of the younger boys have been batting extremely well,” said Dawson.

“And Mason Crane has carried his form on from last year. He’s an exceptional bowler. He’s only 19 and for the lad to land a cricket ball, bowling leg spin the way he does, is incredible. I’m sure that he’ll have a very good summer for us.”

Dawson is also aware that his team must avoid the type of faltering opening to the campaign that consigned them to an ultimately successful season-long fight against the drop from County Championship Division One in 2015.

He said: “It is important to make a good start. But it’s a long season. As long as we’re not losing games of cricket, we’re picking up bonus points and, at least, getting good, high-scoring draws, then that sets you up very nicely going into the last two months of the season.

“Then, when you do win a few games at that later stage, you’re in with a shout of finishing in the top-four, or as high as you can.”