Hampshire Cricket History

Jimmy Adams, Michael Carberry and Danny Briggs have today been named in England’s Performance Programme Squad to travel to Australia for the winter. For Briggs who began the season on a Development contract at Hampshire it’s an extraordinary achievement – and for all three well deserved.

Kevin Pietersen who has played occasionally for Hampshire in the past is in the main squad – so too is a player who was in the same Hampshire Under 19 side as Adams a decade ago – Chris Tremlett. How I wish he was going as a Hampshire player!

A familiar sight in 2010, Jimmy Adams on the attack. Last night at the Rose Bowl for the second consecutive season, his team-mates voted him as Hampshire’s Player of the Year. He was also the batsman of the year. Dominic Cork was bowler of the year, Danny Briggs won the Olive Ford award as the best uncapped young player and he was also voted Player of the Year by the under-16 Junior Hawks. The Academy’s Player of the Year was Jamie Miller, the young leg-spinner. The event was presented by Mark Nicholas, the former Hampshire captain who now works in television.

I’ve just learned a lovely tale from Mike Adams, father of Hampshire’s Jimmy and Chairman at St Cross the Winchester Southern League side. Apparently WG played there at some time in the 1870s in a match on which there was an incredible £2,000 wager (which WG lost!). There’s no mention of spot-fixing, Indian bookmakers or Sky TV as far as I know.

I had believed that the photo above showed WG’s only appearance in Hampshire, at Bournemouth (which was then in the county). He is taking the field with the Hampshire captain and wicketkeeper Charles Robson. I hope there may be more details of the St Cross appearance to follow.

Imran Tahir (left) sits watching James Vince bowl, as his side Warwickshire close in on their 10 wicket win today. Next season Tahir will return to Hampshire as their overseas player – and there is every reason to expect that he will contribute more than the various overseas players who have appeared at the Rose Bowl this season.

The final day of the season was a day too far for Hampshire. They resumed their second innings 85 runs behind Warwickshire and collapsed to 57-7 (above) before Sean Ervine hit 62 from 60 balls to restore some respectability. Only Ervine and no. 10 Danny Briggs (11) reached double figures.

Simon Jones made his Hampshire debut v Warwickshire, 25 months after his previous first-class match and took 4-60. Here he bowls to Maddy, with centurion Bell at the non-striker’s end.

Warwickshire need one point to be sure of safety (with three available for a draw) – but only if Kent win. If Kent fail, Warwickshire are safe

Jimmy Adams needs 8 runs to post his highest season’s aggregate in the Championship. James Hildreth scored a century today (Weds) which takes his aggregate for the season in all cricket to 2,510 which is 3 more than Adams has before the 2nd innings on Thursday morning.

James Tomlinson is now leading wicket taker in the Championship but Dominic Cork is leading wicket-taker overall. Simon Jones took four wickets on debut today

But still no stumpings in the Championship!

Some comparisons:

In 1921 a total of 31 players appeared in the Championship for Hampshire. They finished sixth which, apart from 5th in 1914, equalled their best position until 1955

In seven seasons from 1955-1961, Hampshire used just 26 players and finished 3rd (1955), 2nd (1958) and 1st (1961)

In 1973 when Hampshire last won the Championship, 13 players appeared.

In 2010, 26 players appeared for Hampshire in the three competitions.

I’ve just received this copy from Richard Griffiths. It’s the team sheet for Hampshire Club & Ground XI – 1966 or 1967 – and I believe the Hampshire debut for Gordon Greenidge. Three other men here played in the county first XI – Mike Barnard, Keith Wheatley and John Holder