BBC SPORT | Cricket | Counties | Warne rejoins Hants

Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne is to rejoin Hampshire next summer and will be the team's new captain.

Warne has agreed a two-year deal with the club after first playing for them in 2000 when he took 70 Championship wickets.

It's like a second home to me

Shane Warne

Former England batsman Robin Smith has decided to step down as captain at the end of the season after five years in the job.

"I'll be working around the international schedule and whenever it allows me to play for Hampshire, I will," said Warne.

"Statistically, I've just had my best ever year at international level so I want to keep my form going.

"I don't know when that form will finish or someone comes and taps me on the shoulder and says my time is up, but for now it's a matter of me making sure I've got security and building a relationship with Hampshire."

Controversy

Warne has previous captaincy experience, having led Australia in 11 one-day internationals, 10 of which they won, and has also .

But reports of lewd phone calls to a nurse during his summer with Hampshire cost him his position as vice-captain to Steve Waugh.

Smith scored a century against Australia last year
Smith will be staying on as a player

Despite that, he remains of the Australian side, having taken 450 wickets in 101 Tests at an average of 26.52, and 283 in one-day internationals.

He was named as one of Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Century in 2000.

"Signing Shane Warne for a second time is tremendous news for the county and demonstrates the depth of our ambition," club chairman Rod Bransgrove commented.

New manager

Warne's first task at the Rose Bowl will be to try and lead the side to promotion from Championship Division Two following the team's relegation this summer.

He will be working alongside Paul Terry, who is returning to the club as First Team manager.

Terry scored 25,000 runs during his playing career and said: "Hampshire have played a big part in my cricketing life and I'm looking forward to the next step in the journey."

He has, ironically, been coaching in Australia for the past three years.

The club has yet to decide who will lead the team whenever Warne is away on international duty, but batsman Will Kendall is the leading candidate.

And they have been further boosted by batsman Derek Kenway's decision to reverse his recent decision to request a release from his contract.


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