Hampshire: All-rounder Liam Dawson to be sent out on loan

Dawson has only featured in County Championship matches for Hampshire this season

Hampshire are to let batsman and left-arm spinner Liam Dawson go out on loan.

Dawson has missed just two County Championship matches this season, but is not part of Hampshire's T20 squad.

Coach Dale Benkenstein said the 25-year-old needs to improve his first-class batting average, having failed to score a half-century this season.

"It's been disappointing as Liam shows a lot of promise, but the numbers are just not there with the bat," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"Ideally, we would like him to be in the top six as a batter, but you're doing a disservice to other players in the second XI who are putting up good enough scores."

Danny Briggs, meanwhile, has been preferred to Dawson as first-choice spinner in four and one-day cricket.

"I think there would be quite a few counties who would want him," Benkenstein said.

"He's disappointed he's not playing, but we just can't find a place for him in our team at the moment."

He also confirmed that all-rounder Sean Ervine is to have a pin inserted in a broken finger he sustained in the County Championship defeat against Somerset and will be out of action for at least six weeks.

"The break is not healing as hoped so it's a big blow in all forms, especially in T20 where he's a big specialist," he added.