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[FattusCattus]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2017/content/story/1094627.html

What's your take on this story?  I can't really go one way or the other. Hampshire, at this stage of the season clearly only need 1 spinner, and with Dawson's batting ability, they are picking him, so why are the selectors moaning about it?

However, I am a massive spin-fan and want to see him play and develop as quickly as possible - but will he get anything out of these April pitches, or will he get tonked and lose confidence?

Tricky.

[Batbuddy99]

If they knew he wasn't going to play, couldn't they have just sent him out on a short term loan?
Help him develop, and to have some overs under his belt when he is needed later in the season

[WalkingWicket37]

Having seen a fair bit of him playing at the Ageas bowl over the last couple of seasons:

He's a young leg spinner, so naturally bowls the odd bad ball. He cannot tie up an end in the same way as Dawson does.
He doesn't offer as much with the bat as Dawson.

Who would be left out to may way for him? With the 14 Kolpak players, Carberry, Dawson & Adams having their spots nailed down it's hard to see how he'd get into the side early season when the wickets aren't so spin friendly.

[six and out]

Hampshire 2nds have only played 1 game - Crane's match figures - 18 overs - 85 runs - 5 wickets

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1090292.html

[moggy]

It's difficult to play two spinners at this time of the season and with Dawson having legitimate England claims and having made his test debut in the winter it's hard to see how either could have been left out without complaint.  Whittaker is full of it though, it's his bosses that have moved the bulk of the championship cricket to either end of the season to accomodate endless List A games thus reducing the opportunities for spin.

We're three games into a long season and discussing a young player who has been playing all winter.  Perhaps in two months time Hampshire will be lambasted for over playing Crane?!

[justnotcricket86]

As a Hampshire fan myself, I have been hoping he will do what Briggs couldn't.

Hoping he gets some games once the weather improves though. He's only going to get better and without being biased, if looked after and not over-coached, could be the future for England (long way off I know)

[iand123]

I think its disappointing given hes come off a very productive winter and now hes not playing and losing momentum. As mentioned above surely they could have farmed him out to a div 2 team to bowl some overs?

[Manormanic]

Playing devils advocate, you can hardly blame Hampshire when they see how counties who do nurture England players are treated...

[Felix Tito]

Typical English mentality regarding spin Dawson is nothing more than bits and pieces. Crane is potentially a superstar. Just look at a couple of international players, vettori and harbhajan, both bunnies with the bat they started and ended up in vettori's case a true all all rounder and harbhajan became good enough to score multiple Test 100s. Pick the best spinner to win you matches. Not rubbish bits and pieces

[Sam]

Typical English mentality regarding spin Dawson is nothing more than bits and pieces. Crane is potentially a superstar. Just look at a couple of international players, vettori and harbhajan, both bunnies with the bat they started and ended up in vettori's case a true all all rounder and harbhajan became good enough to score multiple Test 100s. Pick the best spinner to win you matches. Not rubbish bits and pieces

But surely picking the best team comes ahead of picking the best spinner in terms of winning matches?

[Felix Tito]

But surely picking the best team comes ahead of picking the best spinner in terms of winning matches?

Playing a talented young buck like Crane is beneficial for English cricket. Someone like Dawson offers nothing to English cricket apart from stopping Crane's progression

[Bats_Entertainment]

Playing a talented young buck like Crane is beneficial for English cricket. Someone like Dawson offers nothing to English cricket apart from stopping Crane's progression

See what I mean?

[Manormanic]

But surely picking the best team comes ahead of picking the best spinner in terms of winning matches?

Having made Yorkshire follow on, would they rather a leggie with talent, or someone to block an end? The result kinda evidences how wrong headed the selection is.

[Felix Tito]

See what I mean?

Comeback when you've grown half a brain

[Sam]

Having made Yorkshire follow on, would they rather a leggie with talent, or someone to block an end? The result kinda evidences how wrong headed the selection is.

And who would they have dropped for him? Going into a game in April in England with only 3 pace bowlers? Or going in with a very long tail by dropping a batsman (and that being another talented youngster in Alsop). Dropping Dawson after his performances in recent years wasn't going to happen.