Just five weeks from the start of the English county season, Hampshire are at odds to pick the man to lead them in 2008. Dimitri Mascarenhas, the club's star allrounder, will be plying his trade for Jaipur in the lucrative Indian Premier League, under regular captain Shane Warne, and Nic Pothas, the wicketkeeper, jeopardised his chances by signing for the unofficial Indian Cricket League, much to the displeasure of cricket manager Paul Terry.

"We deem the job to be an important one and an honour as it should be," Terry told BBC Radio Solent. "I can't say that I have a decision in mind at the moment."

"So much has happened in the last couple of weeks. These are things that I will have a chat about with the chairman (Rod Bransgrove) next week," added Terry, who flies into the UK this weekend from his home in Perth.

Hampshire have been one of the counties hit hard by both the IPL and the ICL. Shane Bond's contract is in serious doubt since he signed for the ICL. Shane Watson, the Australian all-rounder, will play the middle third of the campaign before Warne takes on the captaincy for the final two months of the summer.