​The England and Wales Cricket Board has announced that Hampshire’s Liam Dawson and Somerset’s Tom Banton will be released from England’s one-day international squad to participate in Saturday’s T20 Finals Day. Both players have been part of Brendon McCullum’s squad as England continues its ODI series against India, with the third and final match scheduled for Sunday at Lord’s.
Banton has yet to make his mark in the series, while Dawson played in the opening ODI defeat before missing Thursday’s four-wicket victory in Cardiff. Hampshire and Somerset earned their places on Finals Day with impressive, entertaining wins in the quarter-finals. The Hawks defeated Essex at Utilita Power Stadium by 75 runs, and defending champions Somerset produced a dramatic comeback to beat Yorkshire.
Banton had been released by England for the quarter-final, though his performance with the bat left room for improvement, as he was dismissed for just one run off five balls. Dawson, on the other hand, did not receive permission to play for Hampshire in their quarter-final after delivering a string of career-best numbers for England in the day prior’s first ODI against India. He struck 68 runs—his highest score for England in any format—before being restricted to just two overs with the ball.
F Finals Day begins at Edgbaston at 11:00 BST, with the first semi-final pitting the Northamptonshire Steelbacks against Somerset. Hampshire Hawks will follow, taking on the Notts Outlaws at 14:30, before the day’s culmination in the final at 18:45. Fans can keep up with all the action live on the BBC Sport website and app.
The move reflects England’s need to balance preparation for the longer-format series against India with the excitement and strategic importance of the T20 domestic showcase, which has drawn in familiar faces from across the men’s game. The inclusion of Dawson and Banton on Finals Day underscores the depth in England’s white-ball setup as they navigate the busy international calendar.