Dawson added to Lions squad

Liam Dawson, the Hampshire left-arm spinner, has been added to the England Lions squad for their tour of New Zealand next month.

Dawson is currently captaining the England Under-19 squad in South Africa and he is continuing his fast-track progress through the ranks after an impressive 2008 in county cricket. In the final game of season, against Nottinghamshire, he became Hampshire's youngest first-class century-maker when he made his maiden hundred.

Dawson becomes the third spin option in the squad, which already includes Worcestershire's Gareth Batty and Nottinghamshire's Samit Patel.

The tour includes two Tests, two one-dayers and a Twenty20 against New Zealand A.