91Èȱ¬

Hampshire all-rounder Liam Dawson has signed a new two-year-contract with the Championship Division Two club.

Dawson, 22, spent some of the winter at the Mountaineers franchise in Zimbabwe before returning home early after deciding the lifestyle was not for him.

He later went to play at Dandenong Cricket Club in Melbourne where he managed to work on his left-arm spin.

"It's always nice to sign a new contract and shows that the club wants you," Dawson told 91Èȱ¬ Radio Solent.

"I had a decent year last season so to get a new deal is very nice."

In September 2008, Dawson became the youngest Hampshire player to score a first-class century for the club at the age of 18.

Last year was considered a breakthrough season for him, as he scored 908 runs at an average of 36, with a top score of 169.

Dawson hopes that he and the other young players in the squad can help Hampshire back into the top flight following their relegation last season.

"It's a good place to play," he said. "We have a young and exciting squad and we'll be doing our best to get back in Division One.

"This year I am going to have to take a bit more responsibility with the ball along with Danny Briggs [Hampshire's England one-day spinner].

"The squad is young, but we've played a lot of cricket as a group. We've got a fair amount of experience and it is a time now where we've got to start winning games for this club.

"It is an exciting and new era for the club and we'll be doing our best to get back into Division One."