Dominic Cork is leading Hampshire in the absence of Dimitri Mascarenhas

Veteran Hampshire all-rounder Dominic Cork says he is considering the offer of a new contract.

"I'm going to think about it," said Cork. "I'm sure I'll make the right decision for myself and for Hampshire.

"As long as I'm physically OK and feel I can make a difference I want to play. I don't want to be picked because of what I've done in the past.

The 39-year-old captained Hampshire to the Friends Provident t20 title at their Rose Bowl home on Saturday.

And the former Derbyshire, Lancashire and England man is still tempted to carry on playing - inspired by three of his contemporaries.

"Ali Brown, Robert Croft, Mark Ramprakash - they're all over 40 and I'm 39," he said.

"I want to be picked because I can make that difference and, if I believe I can do that, I'll carry on.

"If I don't think that then it's time to let some of the youngsters take the ball and have a good time because it's been a great career."

606: DEBATE Well done Hampshire fans, I was sort of rooting for you, but I wanted Somerset to win because they were so unlucky last year PompeyMeowth

Cork was speaking after helping Hampshire become the first side to win the domestic Twenty20 title on their home ground with Saturday night's victory over Somerset.

And, although Neil McKenzie was named man of the match for his 52, the South African was quick to praise the performance of captain Cork, the day's most economical bowler, as he followed his 2-24 in the semi-final win over Essex with an equally impressive 0-22 in the final.

"Everyone's talking about Dominic's age but he just keeps running in there and he's probably the best competitor I've seen or played against," said McKenzie.

"He'll stop when he feels he's not competing any more but, right now, I even have to pull him aside every now and again to tell him to slow down."

Potteries-born Cork, who began his career with North Staffordshire and South Cheshire League side Betley, made his first-class debut for Derbyshire in 1990.

He took over the Derbyshire captaincy in 1999, but left for Lancashire in 2003 and spent five seasons at Old Trafford before moving on to Hampshire.

Cork made his Test debut in 1995, taking 7-43 against West Indies at Lord's, before claiming a hat-trick in only his third match, against the same opponents at Old Trafford.

He played the last of his 37 Tests against India at The Oval in 2002, finishing with 131 wickets at average on 29.81.

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