Hampshire Triple Strike

Hampshire County Cricket Club and their fans have been kept busy in the last day or so as the playing staff grows daily it seems, with the club hot on the heels of talented batsman Kevin Pietersen but haven't lost touch of the other talents around on the circuit as in the past two days have snapped up both Sean Ervine and Richard Logan.

But the best news for the county came when an extermly talented English all rounder in Dimitri Mascarenhas turned down an offer to go and play for the Western Australian outfit this summer to concentrate on his own game with Hampshire and try to break into the England line up.


Richard Logan, the Nottinghamshire pace bowler, is joining Hampshire on a two-year contract.

The Staffordshire-born 24-year-old is out of contract at Trent Bridge where he has played for the last four seasons. Previously, he spent two years with Northants.

Back in June, Logan returned inspired match figures of 8 for 90 when Notts beat Hampshire by an innings in a County Championship match at the Rose Bowl. Both counties went on to win promotion.

"I'm very excited to be signing for Hampshire," he says, "and I'm really looking forward to the challenge of bowling in the top division of the County Championship and the totesport League next season. It's a great move for me."


Zimbabwean Sean Ervine signs for Hampshire.

Hampshire have made their second signing in two days - they have now snapped up Sean Ervine, the 22-year-old Zimbabwe international all-rounder who does not have to qualify to play English county cricket, on a two-year contract.

A right-arm pace bowler and aggressive left-handed batsman, Ervine has played in five Test matches and 42 one-day internationals. But he has now retired from international cricket with Zimbabwe and lives in Perth where he plays for Western Australia.

"This is a challenge I relish, I want to develop my career with Hampshire," he says. "Last year I played for Zimbabwe against Australia at The Rose Bowl, so I know just what a great ground it is."

Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove adds: "We are all delighted to have signed an all-rounder of Sean Ervine's ability. I'm sure he will make a real impact."


Dimitri Mascarenhas to concentrate on Hampshire and possibly England.

Dimitri Mascarenhas who spends his winters playing Grade Cricket in Australia, rejected the chance to play for the Retrivision Warriors in the Pura Cup (formally Sheffield Shield) to concentrate all his efforts on Hampshire, and the hope of an England place in the not too distant future.

Retivision Warriors the new sponsor style name for Western Australia are one of the senion state teams and a contract for them would have been a tremendous hounour for this likeable all-rounder.

"Playing for them would mean I would have to play for Hampshire as an overseas player and be inelegible to play for England".

Posted by Richard