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September 16, 2008
Morris not offered new contract
Posted on 09/16/2008 in Hampshire
Richard Morris has not been offered a contract by Hampshire Cricket for the 2009 season.
The 20-year-old was born in Newbury, and educated at Loughborough University. He made his debut in 2006.
September 9, 2008
Lamb and Latouf released
Posted on 09/09/2008 in Hampshire
Greg Lamb, the offspinning allrounder, and batsman Kevin Latouf have been released by Hampshire.
Lamb began the season as the main spinner, but struggled to fill the gap left by Shane Warne and Shaun Udal before being dropped in favour of Imran Tahir and Liam Dawson.
Latouf has been on a trial at Warwickshire during the season after failing to find a first-team place.
August 22, 2008
Ervine commits to Hampshire and England
Posted on 08/22/2008 in Hampshire
Ervine has signed a new two-year contract with Hampshire until end of the 2010 season. Ervine, the former Zimbabwe allrounder, has also committed to spend more than 210 days annually in England over the next four years in order to qualify for England.
..I am extremely happy to commit myself for another 2 years," he said. "Hampshire is a fantastic club to be apart of, and I..m looking forward to a great deal of success over the next few years."
May 30, 2008
Hayward signs for Hampshire
Posted on 05/30/2008 in Hampshire
Hampshire have signed 31-year-old former South African pace bowler,
Nantie Hayward for the remainder of the season.
Hayward played the last of his 16 Tests in 2004 against Sri Lanka. In 2007 he played in the Friends Provident Trophy for Ireland as one of their two overseas players. His previous experience of county cricket comes from his time playing for Middlesex in 2005 and a stint with Worcestershire in 2003.
May 28, 2008
Another Kolpak signing for Hampshire
Posted on 05/28/2008 in Hampshire
Hampshire have signed Rory Kleinveldt, a 25-year-old allrounder from Cape Cobras, on a Kolpak contract.
Kleinveldt, who took 26 wickets in 2007-08, said that it would be ..really great to share a dressing-room with Kevin Pietersen .he..s definitely someone I can learn from..
April 29, 2008
Journalists get on their bike
Posted on 04/29/2008 in Miscellaneous
How do you get from the Brit Oval to Lord's without crossing the Thames? Six intrepid cyclists are about to prove it can be done and all in a good cause.
They are cycling from Kennington to St John's Wood the long way round, taking in all 18 first-class county headquarters - a trip of more than 1,000 miles over 16 days.
The tour has been devised by two cricket writers who spend most of their time pedalling opinions on the game: David Lloyd of the London Evening Standard and Colin Bateman of the Daily Express.
Continue reading "Journalists get on their bike"
March 14, 2008
Hampshire captaincy undecided
Posted on 03/14/2008 in Hampshire
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.
March 9, 2008
Watson heading back to Hampshire
Posted on 03/09/2008 in Hampshire
Shane Watson, the Australian allrounder, is set to return to Hampshire for a mid-season spell in June and July. The club are still trying to cover the gaps left by Shane Warne's absence and Watson's stint will coincide with the Twenty20 Cup. He previously played for Hampshire in 2004 and 2005, helping them with the C&G Trophy in 2005.
"I'm definitely going back to Hampshire and I'm just a day away from signing," Watson told the Daily Echo on Friday.
However, it is believed that Watson is still hoping to find a place in the IPL so wouldn't be available for the first part of the season if Hampshire need to replace Shane Bond who is part of the ICL and is likely to be prevented from playing county cricket.
March 7, 2008
Cancer Tests for England cricketers
Posted on 03/07/2008 in Miscellaneous
All first-class cricketers in England will be tested for skin cancer this season. In an initiative by the Professional Cricketers Association about 400 players will have checks for the disease.
Hampshire disappointed at Pothas ICL decision
Posted on 03/07/2008 in Hampshire
Paul Terry, the Hampshire manager, has raised his concern over the future of Nic Pothas's county career after the wicketkeeper signed for the Indian Cricket League.
"I think if he was aware of that risk then, yes, I am very disappointed," he told the BBC. "I think he probably was aware of the [risks] before he left."
"We have got a wicket-keeper, Tom Burrows, who has played a bit of first-team cricket for us and has always done very well," added Terry. "So if it was to be Tom then I think he could go far."
Read the full story at the BBC.
March 6, 2008
Pothas doubts as he signs for the ICL
Posted on 03/06/2008 in Hampshire
Hampshire..s plans for 2008, already hit by the extended absence of Shane Warne and the probably unavailability of Shane Bond, have been dealt a further blow with news that Nic Pothas has signed for the unofficial Indian Cricket League.
Pothas, who qualifies for England this summer, had been touted as a replacement for Warne as captain, but he has thrown in his lot with the Delhi Giants.
Although the ECB has made clear that players who sign with the ICL will face being barred, Pothas.. status means his case is not straightforward. His qualification for England has not been finalised, and as an EU-qualified player through his Greek passport, he is neither an overseas player nor a Kolpak signing.
February 11, 2008
Hampshire's Barbados tour cancelled
Posted on 02/11/2008 in Hampshire
Hampshire's pre-season tour to Barbados has been cancelled because of a lack of sponsorship, according to the BBC.
The squad were to play in a tournament in memory of the fast-bowling great Malcolm Marshall at the end of March.
Marshall played for Hampshire for 15 seasons before dying of colon cancer in 1999 at the age of 41. Manager Paul Terry told BBC Radio Solent: "A lack of sponsorship, mainly at their end, means we have had to alter our plans."
December 12, 2007
Pietersen agrees Hampshire extension
Posted on 12/12/2007 in Hampshire
Kevin Pietersen has agreed a three-year extension to his Hampshire contract, although the club will see very little given all his England commitments.
"I get a really warm welcome from the Hampshire fans whenever I am down at the Rose Bowl and I look forward to that continuing in the coming seasons," said Pietersen.
Rod Bransgrove, the Hampshire chairman, added: ..KP is a true world-class talent and this is great news for all Hampshire fans. We don..t see him quite as often as we would like but that..s only because he continues to play so brilliantly in the international arena.
"We savour the times we have him in the Hampshire side and I..m certainly looking forward to him giving the opposition bowlers a rough ride here at the Rose Bowl on more than a few occasions next season..
October 30, 2007
Udal signs for Berkshire
Posted on 10/30/2007 in Minor Counties
Shaun Udal, the former England and Hampshire off-spinner, has signed for Berkshire CCC to replace Aftab Habib who, last week, was named the new coach of Hong Kong.
September 26, 2007
Hampshire retain out-of-contract players
Posted on 09/26/2007 in Hampshire
Hampshire have offered new deals to all five of their out-of-contract players.
Billy Taylor, who didn't appear in the Championship in 2007, has been offered a one-day contract only. Greg Lamb and Tom Burrows have been retained - as have David Balcombe and David Griffiths, the two young fast bowlers.
September 19, 2007
Time for salary caps?
Posted on 09/19/2007 in
A fascinating report in The Guardian looks into how county cricket pays for itself. if it does. and whether or not salary capping is a good idea.
September 6, 2007
Crawley awarded benefit
Posted on 09/06/2007 in Hampshire
John Crawley has been awarded a benefit by Hampshire for 2008, which will be his seventh season with the club since his move from Lancashire.
..It..s a great privilege and honour to be awarded my benefit year by the members and supporters at Hampshire," said Crawley. "I..d like to thank them for the opportunity and their support over my career at Hampshire."
Paul Terry, the team manager, added: ..It..s a fitting tribute to a player that was originally capped by Lancashire in 1994 and since his move to Hampshire has continued to entertain cricket supporters around the country with his fantastic style and grace of play..
August 14, 2007
England players available for Lord's final
Posted on 08/14/2007 in
Paul Collingwood, Kevin Pietersen, Dimitri Mascarenhas and Chris Tremlett will be available to their respective counties for the Friends Provident Trophy Final between Durham and Hampshire at Lord..s on Saturday.
The other England players who appeared in the third Test will be unavailable for domestic cricket, as will those in the one-day squad will be rested from domestic cricket until the one-day series starts next Tuesday.
Michael Vaughan and Andrew Strauss will be rested from the next round of Championship matches which start on Tuesday, but will be available to their counties for the remainder of the season.
August 2, 2007
Crawley lifts Hampshire to victory
Posted on 08/02/2007 in
John Crawley may have missed out on a hundred but his unbeaten 97 helped Hampshire to a last-over win against Nottinghamshire under the lights in Tuesday..s Pro40 match.
While David Hussey was making his 81, Notts looked set for a big total, but his dismissal at 197 triggered a mini-slide, leaving them with a still-sizeable 214. Crawley led from the front, though, and his opening stand of 88 with Michael Lumb (53) gave Hampshire the edge at the Rose Bowl and they eased home with five balls to spare.
July 23, 2007
Some county players earn less than minimum wage
Posted on 07/23/2007 in Miscellaneous
In The Sunday Telegraph , Steve James highlights the disparity between the high earners in English cricket and those at the bottom of the food chain.
The Professional Cricketers' Association estimates that a cricketer works about 50 hours a week (including play, travel, training and time spent away from home). This means, in broad terms, that a player needs to earn more than £7,000 per season to be over the minimum wage. There are definitely players earning less than that; indeed there are players earning as little as £3,000 per season.
June 27, 2007
James Bruce penalised by ECB
Posted on 06/27/2007 in Hampshire
The ECB has announced that Hampshire..s James Bruce has received three penalty points under the ECB..s discipline code following an incident during Hampshire..s County Championship match against Durham earlier this month.
Bruce was reported by umpires Barrie Leadbeater and Neil Mallender for a Level Two breach of the code (causing avoidable damage to the pitch that results in a five-run penalty being awarded).
The penalty points remain on Bruce..s record for a period of two years. The accumulation of nine or more penalty points in any two-year period will result in an automatic suspension.
June 14, 2007
Hampshire put semi-final tickets on sale
Posted on 06/14/2007 in Hampshire
Hampshire have announced that tickets are on sale for their Friends Provident semi-final against Warwickshire on June 20.
Tickets can be purchased from the county..s ticket hotline 08705 321 321 or by booking online at www.ticketzone.co.uk.
Tickets are also available in person from The Rose Bowl between 9.00am .. 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.
October 17, 2006
The Warne effect cuts two ways
Posted on 10/17/2006 in Hampshire
There were two distinct Hampshires in 2006: one with Shane Warne leading with verve, imagination and aggression, another more timid variety, left to their own devices during his trips home. There is no doubt that Hampshire have developed a Warne complex, emboldened by his formidable presence and like a toddler without a parent in his absence. Warne must surely be the best captain Australia never had. To watch him change his field at least once an over, manoeuvring, cajoling, intimidating all at once, is an education and Hampshire have reaped a huge benefit from his wholehearted commitment. At least they won promotion from the second division of the one-day league, worthy enough in itself, but the big target was the Championship and third place was only just acceptable. Chris Tremlett..s frequent injuries restricted him to nine Championship matches and saw him fall down the England pecking order but the rapid development of James Bruce, James Adams, Michael Carberry and Chris Benham partially made up for it. But there was only one serious contender for player of the year, chosen by the other players, and that was John Crawley for his 1,737 Championship runs at 66. As for the Rose Bowl ..minefield.., it is improving by the year.
Pat Symes The Wisden Cricketer
The Warne effect cuts two ways
Posted on 10/17/2006 in Hampshire
There were two distinct Hampshires in 2006: one with Shane Warne leading with verve, imagination and aggression, another more timid variety, left to their own devices during his trips home. There is no doubt that Hampshire have developed a Warne complex, emboldened by his formidable presence and like a toddler without a parent in his absence. Warne must surely be the best captain Australia never had. To watch him change his field at least once an over, manoeuvring, cajoling, intimidating all at once, is an education and Hampshire have reaped a huge benefit from his wholehearted commitment. At least they won promotion from the second division of the one-day league, worthy enough in itself, but the big target was the Championship and third place was only just acceptable. Chris Tremlett..s frequent injuries restricted him to nine Championship matches and saw him fall down the England pecking order but the rapid development of James Bruce, James Adams, Michael Carberry and Chris Benham partially made up for it. But there was only one serious contender for player of the year, chosen by the other players, and that was John Crawley for his 1,737 Championship runs at 66. As for the Rose Bowl ..minefield.., it is improving by the year.
Pat Symes The Wisden Cricketer
September 19, 2006
No business...
Posted on 09/19/2006 in Hampshire
Luciano Pavarotti and Billy Joel are not names Hampshire would normally single out as reasons for financial failure. But with the last yearly loss a reported £900,000, it was a major setback when their Rose Bowl concerts did not deliver.
Joel sold only around half his 20,000 tickets and the ailing fat man failed to sing at all. When heavy rain washed out the televised day-nighter with Surrey, Hampshire never got the chance to show off their £250,000 stillpristine floodlights or make the most of an expected big crowd.
There were heart-stopping moments, too, when the oneday series with Pakistan was in danger of being cancelled. That would have cost Hampshire another £250,000. Rod Bransgrove, the chairman, says Hampshire are getting the better of their problems but, with the days of big-money signings drawing to a (temporary) close, the county are pleased to see their academy bearing cheaper fruit.
Chris Benham is developing in the top order and watch out, down the line, for home-produced Tom Burrows, Mitchell Stokes, Kevin Latouf and, coming fast, a spin bowler, Liam Dawson.
Pat Symes
September 3, 2006
Adams repays faith
Posted on 09/03/2006 in Hampshire
Jimmy Adams, a lefthanded opener of modest record, has been Hampshire..s ..discovery.. of the season, repaying the faith shown in him by Paul Terry and Shane Warne with two outstanding centuries, including a double at Trent Bridge.
This was always going to be the year which made or broke the affable Adams, a former England Under-19 batsman. At 25 and without a century in 50 first-class innings, time and patience were beginning to run out.
Another six matches and 12 innings came and went this summer before Adams, in a daylong cocoon of concentration at Headingley in testing circumstances, earned Hampshire an improbable victory chasing 404.
That innings has been a catalyst for the real Adams to emerge .. no more tentative pushes and prods, betraying lack of self-belief. For the first time 1,000 runs beckon.
Six weeks later the former Loughborough batsman scored a magnificent unbeaten 262 against Nottinghamshire in a draw to confirm that his match-winning performance against Yorkshire was not in isolation.
The Wisden Cricketer, Pat Symes
August 31, 2006
Mascarenhas reprimanded
Posted on 08/31/2006 in Hampshire
Dimitri Mascarenhas has been reprimanded under the ECB's discipline code following an incident during Hampshire's County Championship match with Warwickshire earlier this month.
He was reported by the match umpires for breaching the ECB's code, and his was a Level One offence which relates to abuse of the ground, equipment or fixtures and fittings.
The penalty will remain on his record for two years.
August 21, 2006
Hampshire lose points
Posted on 08/21/2006 in Hampshire
If Hampshire's defeat against Warwickshire wasn't bad enough - leaving them adrift of the Championship leaders - they were also docked two points for a slow over-rate.
August 16, 2006
Dimitri Mascarenhas awarded benefit
Posted on 08/16/2006 in Hampshire
Dimitri Mascarenhas, the Hampshire allrounder, has been awarded a benefit for next season.
"It is a great honour to be awarded a Benefit for 2007,. he said. ..I'm very excited about it and looking forward to a great year on and off the field. I feel very lucky. I never thought that I would be in this position. A huge thank you must be expressed to all at the club, especially to all my team-mates and the members' committee who have awarded me this benefit..
August 7, 2006
Warne's frustration
Posted on 08/07/2006 in Hampshire
Shane Warne got so frustrated at Hampshire's inability to take any Kent wickets on the final day of their Championship match at Canterbury that he told Nic Pothas, the wicketkeeper, to bowl with his pads on. Pothas did so for two overs, before removing his keeping equipment, during a six-over spell. Warne used 10 bowlers as David Fulton and Robert Key both struck unbeaten centuries and it would have been 11 if Chris Tremlett hadn't been off the field. At one point Warne left the field and was seen having a cigarette on the balcony. It was one of those days.
August 1, 2006
Creeping statistics
Posted on 08/01/2006 in Hampshire
Maybe expecting Test cricket at the Rose Bowl by 2009 was asking too much when cows, not cricketers, were enjoying it little more than seven years ago. But its much-criticised
playing surface is improving, if statistics are a reliable guide. Over the first five torrid
summers at the Rose Bowl only two Hampshire players attained the modest target of 1,000 runs: Simon Katich (1,143 in 2003) and John Crawley (1,246 in 2005). Though runs are still not flowing, by the mid-point in the Championship as many as five look on course for 1,000 this year. Crawley had 748 and four others .. James Adams, Dominic Thornely, Michael Carberry and Nic Pothas .. had 462 or more. Is it too late for Crawley to be considered as an England player again? Not since he left Lancashire so controversially has ..Creepy.. looked so free and confident. He is still only 34 and his England record (average 34.61 from 37 Tests) is not bad either. Shane Warne and Paul Terry reckon he is worth another look.
Pat Symes, The Wisden Cricketer
July 30, 2006
Players thrive on steep earning curve
Posted on 07/30/2006 in Derbyshire
Steve James, the former Glamorgan and England opener, has revealed that the average salary for a county player is around £40,000. Surrey top the pay league, with their players earning an average salary of £60,000, and that excludes the bumper earnings of their overseas recruits. Yorkshire are at the bottom of the pay league, with an average salary of £30,000.
Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, James's article has gone a long way to dispelling the belief that county cricketers are sports paupers. While they still might to be able to hold a candle to any footballers in the Premier League, their pay is not as bad as it once was.
Click here for the full story.
July 24, 2006
Botham and Flintoff don the white coats
Posted on 07/24/2006 in Hampshire
Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff both made unexpected appearances during a testimonial match for Liam Botham at The Rose Bowl. While neither man actually played, both took turns to umpire.
Botham senior, who retired in 1993, vowed at the time never to take part in another game. "If I can't reappear on a cricket field on behalf of my own flesh and blood, when could I ever make a comeback?. he grinned after a ten-over stint dressed in a fetching pink shirt. "But I won't be doing that again in a hurry. Umpiring is far too much like hard work for grandfathers like me."
July 20, 2006
Roll up for Botham's testimonial
Posted on 07/20/2006 in Hampshire
No, not that one ... When Liam Botham took five wickets on his county debut aged 18, England thought they..d found a chip off the old block. Sadly for the cricketing fraternity, Liam thought better of trying to cope with the expectation of emulating his father and headed instead for rugby, where he ended up playing both codes. Cricket..s loss was rugby..s gain, until injury cut short his career aged just 29. To that end he..s been rewarded with a testimonial match . of cricket . which will see Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen line up against Shane Warne at the Rose Bowl this Sunday in a Twenty20 fest. Well, if your dad..s Ian Botham and he can..t pull in a few favours, who can? He..ll be there, too, of course. If you fancy heading down there, tickets are priced £10 for adults and £5 for children.
June 20, 2006
Warned off
Posted on 06/20/2006 in Hampshire
If only England..s batsmen could see Shane Warne in the dressing room after a long day in the field: shoulder padded by enough ice to sink the Titanic and clawed hand resting on a Rose Bowl table, petrified by over-use. But as his enthralled Hampshire team will testify, Warne leads not just by example - 97 overs in his first two Championship matches back - but by his capacity to inspire those with less ability around him. They love him.
With Hampshire beaten in abject fashion by Sussex in his absence, Warne led from the front in the thrashings of Middlesex and Warwickshire. Outside bets for the title? Do not rule it out while he is around.
Pity poor Shaun Udal. Mumbai hero for England in March, 12th man at a dank, cheerless Rose Bowl when Kent were the
opposition, even after a perky start to the season when it looked as if he might be competing with Monty Panesar for the Sri Lanka-series spin berth. The seam-friendly wickets at The Rose Bowl do him no favours.
Pat Symes, The Wisden Cricketer
Score unsettled
Posted on 06/20/2006 in Kent
While Kent were dodging the downpours at The Rose Bowl, David Fulton found himself in a poker game sitting next to Shane Warne, whose vast wrath Fulton felt last September when that 1,000-1 shot of an arranged chase handed .. as Warne saw it .. the Championship to Nottinghamshire at Hampshire..s expense. ..I felt a bit uneasy at first,. admits Fulton, now ..thoroughly enjoying. a life of reduced responsibility. ..Eventually I asked ..Are we going to talk about this?.. He
grunted, so I said, ..I presume I..m not forgiven... He said: ..No. We move on but I..m still shitty about it...
..Shane said it was a ridiculous chase. I said we did have a chance, however slim, and that, as it was our only route to winning the title and I..d made up my mind it was my last season as captain, I had to go for it. Still, our relationship was back on an even keel. I took all the money on the last hand, though, which was quite satisfying..
There was no Kent generosity in this game, though. ..Keysy didn..t want to know,. said Warne after offering a run chase. ..We got down to 240 off 65 overs but they still weren..t interested at all. If I was offered that I..d take it anywhere in the world..
Rob Steen, The Wisden Cricketer
May 15, 2006
Young guns sent packing
Posted on 05/15/2006 in Hampshire
While on the field most county's have shown that they have an active youth policy, it seems that in Hampshire's case that doesn't extend beyond the boundary. When Vic Isaacs stood down as the county's scorer at the end of last season aged 61, young blood might have been expected to replace him. Instead, step up 81-year-old Tony Weld, a former newsagent.
Shaun Udal - Hampshire and Ireland?
Posted on 05/15/2006 in Hampshire
Shaun Udal has revealed that he almost swapped allegiances to Ireland
before he got a belated chance to resume his international career with England. Udal thought his England days were over so last summer sent an email to the Irish to see if he could play for them in the 2007 World Cup. Udal..s mother Mary is from near Dublin, so qualification would not have been a problem. But the Irish did not respond and then came the call to go to Pakistan with England. Talk about luck of the Irish.
The Wisden Cricketer
May 1, 2006
Tremlett doubt
Posted on 05/01/2006 in Hampshire
Chris Tremlett is a doubt for the England A match against Sri Lanka, at Worcester, after injuring his ankle during Hampshire's Championship match against Sussex at The Rose Bowl. He bowled only three balls on the third day before limping out to bat as Hampshire slid to defeat.
April 30, 2006
You have been Warned
Posted on 04/30/2006 in Hampshire
Shane Warne will make his first appearance of the county season for Hampshire, on Monday, in the C&G Trophy against Essex. Most of the Australians are enjoying a break before next winter's Ashes and World Cup campaigns but not for Warne. Hampshire will be delighted to have him around after slipping to defeat against Sussex in the Championship this week.
April 1, 2006
Rose Bowl lights up for the summer
Posted on 04/01/2006 in Hampshire
Hampshire have successfully installed six floodlights at the Rose Bowl to become the fourth ground in England to have permanent fixtures in place. The ground will host a floodlit Twenty20 match on June 15 when England face Sri Lanka, as well as England's match against Pakistan on September 5 in the NatWest Series.
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