Liam Dawson Retirement: England all-rounder Liam Dawson, who plays for Sunrisers, has surprised everyone with his sudden retirement.

Liam Dawson's First-Class Cricket Retirement: England spin all-rounder Liam Dawson has announced his retirement from first-class cricket with immediate effect, with the IPL 2026 scheduled to begin in February. The 36-year-old will continue playing white-ball cricket. The English all-rounder has been seen playing in T20 leagues around the world.

Dawson hasn't appeared in the IPL yet, but he plays for Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the T20 league in South Africa. During the 2024-25 season, he took 14 wickets for Sunrisers in the tournament, scoring 47 runs with the bat. He will continue to play for the franchise, as he has only retired from red-ball cricket.

What did Dawson say about retirement?

Dawson told Hampshire's website about his retirement: "This is not a decision I have taken lightly, but I feel it is the right time to move forward with my career in white-ball cricket."

Dawson's motive for retirement is clear: he wants to advance his career in white-ball cricket. He has played four Tests for England, nine ODIs, and 32 T20 Internationals. Now, Dawson can further strengthen his white-ball game and become a regular part of England's setup.

Liam Dawson's first-class career

Dawson played 218 first-class matches in his career. Bowling in 284 innings, he took 380 wickets at an average of 32.31, with a best match figure of 12/130. Dawson has three 10-wicket hauls and 15 5-wicket hauls. Batting, he scored 10,828 runs in 351 innings at an average of 34.48. During this period, he scored 18 centuries and 56 half-centuries, with a high score of 171.