Hampshire officials are making strenuous efforts in the faint hope that England’s gain will not be not their loss for the Royal London Cup final on Saturday following the selection of James Vince and Liam Dawson for England’s World Cup squad.
ESPNcricinfo understands that the county is currently in discussions with the ECB and the ICC in an attempt to have the pair released for the match at Lord’s despite the game taking place on the same day as England’s warm-up match against Australia at the Ageas Bowl.
However, the chances of Hampshire receiving a favourable response as distinct from a sympathetic one do not look terribly good. The Royal London Cup final lies within the ICC’s “support period” for the tournament, which begins on May 23.
“As it stands they are not available due to ICC regulations,” England’s national selector, Ed Smith, said. “But I also understand that Hampshire and the ECB are going to do whatever they can to make a case that they would be released if indeed they aren’t required by England. But, as it stands, they are not available. It falls within the support period.”
Both Vince and Dawson were additions to England’s 15-man squad, having not made the preliminary cut in April. Vince came in as a direct replacement for Alex Hales, after the reserve opener failed a drugs test, while Dawson’s Royal London Cup form helped him leapfrog Joe Denly for the reserve spinner spot.
Both players were integral to Hampshire, the cup holders, reaching a second successive Lord’s final. Vince was their highest run-scorer, with 509 at 72.71, while Dawson claimed 18 wickets at 20.33 as well as averaging 45.66 with the bat.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo