Weston Saint

I am told Mo Abbas has gone to Notts. Good luck to him. Great servant for Hants. Edit - club have confirmed. Say it was needed to rebalance the squad.

You are not doing very well so far! JWP has played for West Ham and Notts Forest this season so under Premier rules he cannot play for a 3rd Premier club this season. So why would we make an enquiry?

A little update - There is likely two be an announcement next week on 2 extension to contracts. I have not been told who although Keith Barker (Who I was told about before end of last season) Could be Abbott, I asked! He would not say but got some vibes it could be. The club are working on two potential new signings but the problem is they are finding it difficult getting anyone for more than a couple of months. Likely to hear move as February develops. New owners spoke and 2025 will be a learning time for them. Not going to change the budget for the season and will look at all capital projects again to make sure they are a benefit to the club, the members and the community. These are serious owners but they need time to understand English Cricket. They have allocated a team of five from the company to look and grow with Hampshire and its businesses. One will be based in UK and the others will come over when required.

Can update now. James has signed a 1 year white ball contract to complete his contract with Hampshire. He will not be playing red ball cricket in 2025. He will not be captain of the Championship side as a result but will captain the Vitality Blast T20 where he has committed to play in 2025. There are many reasons for this including 2 attacks on his home by thugs when his wife and children were in residence meaning they spent all summer in a hotel. Despite that James continued to keep his head down and play for Hampshire with pride. Despite the police involvement the matter was not resolved and as ultimately there was no closure it was a key factor in James leaving the UK at the end of the season. He has a wife and two young children to protect. Not heard anything relating to additions or if Abbas and Abbott returning. Rumour that we might sign Tim Southee as overseas player

It is not as straight forward as it seems.

Hampshire Sport & Leisure Group Signs Definitive Acquisition Agreement With GMR Group | Utilita Bowl Explainer - Have Delhi Capitals just bought Hampshire? | ESPNcricinfo Definitely good news in its present format. You will not believe some of the other interest including Venture Capitalists, Americans etc.

Think you have forgotten rain was due and England were well behind the DL rate. All about trying to keep below the 20 over minimum for a match. As it was the rain came just after the 20 overs so we lost!

Well we ended up 2nd 17 points behind Surrey. Had we drawn away to Surrey early in the Season their 16 points would have been 8 each meaning 1 point behind. We were deducted 2 points for slow over rate meaning if the loss and points deduction had not happened we would have won the Championship by 1 point. Small margins and what ifs but it just shows we are not that far off.

Abbott is married with a new child. It will up to him whether he signs an extention. Talks are going on but outcome not yet resolved. I understand Barker has signed a 1 year extension. He has been troubled by injury this year and presently has a groin niggle. Robin Smith has been very ill in Australia and just come out of hospital. He has a long road to recovery so fingers crossed for him. Scott Currie should be back next season after a good season with Leicester including a batting best of 120.

Spoke to Aidi, the coach. We had forced the follow on in the previous two games and not won because bowlers were tired. Wanted to give them a good time to rest. Team very comfortable with our score. Now up to bowlers. 5 down is not a bad response.

Plus youngsters of course.

kookaburra ball being used again so would not be surprised if Kent recover a little but let us see.

Not Beefy's. in our own Executive club Restaurant.

Nothing unusual in Cricket. A group of 8 of us arrange an end of season lunch with Rod Bransgrove and have been for some years. Rod invited Lottie this year but he is now away abroad for the date we arranged for this year so Giles is coming in his place. Cricket is very down to earth. We also chat to the Coach, Adie, and he is very friendly. One of the perks of being an Executive Member and Gold Debenture holder.

All I know at present is that Alice Monaghan is moving to Surrey. Georgia Elwiss is moving to Nottinghamshire. I might know more in a few weeks when I am lunching with Giles White and Charlotte Edwards although it will be "what is said at the dining table stays with the dining table" It has also been reported by BBC that Women will enter the new Women's T20 Vitality Blast in 2025 under the name of Hampshire.

Ben Brown has signed a 1 year contract extension to 2025

Felix Organ has just signed a 2 year extension to his contract Orr playing for 2nds this week so on his way back.

Weatherley has just signed a one year contract extension to 2025. Quite surprised by that but good luck to him. OK in mid order but not an opener in my opinion.

Good day for Hampshire leading by 196 runs with only 2 wickets to take in first innings. All matches using the kookaburra ball for this round which tends to go softer than Duke after about 30 overs. Only 4 overs tomorrow until new ball.

Holland has just signed a permanent deal with Leicestershire (he is on loan to them at present) His desire was to play all formats which Leicestershire can give him Good servant for us. Shame to see him go but difficult to see him in the team if he had stayed.

Middleton, Albert, Prest and Turner signed multi year contracts in December 2023 Vince and Dawson until end of 2025 Gubbins signed a new contract December 2023 but length not known Browns contract until end of 2024 as is Barker, Abbott and Abbas Orr multi year following his close season signing in 2023 Not sure about Organ or Wheal Think Weatherly and Holland end in 2024. Fuller until 2026 Scott Currie signed a multi year extension before his loan to Leicestershire

As always, I like to reserve judgement until both teams have batted but I was one who thought we had made to correct decision to field first. The covers had been on for at least 30 hours before the start and if there was much in the wicket through sweating, that is where we could press for advantage. It did not happen! the second new ball proved the key. When we batted we were very cautious and thereafter our young batsmen took over. We do have a future there with Middleton, Orr, Prest and Albert. Windows, I agree we need a top class spinner. Bowling next season could be Currie, Wheal, Turner, with others coming on. With that group we probably need an experienced bowler. Maybe Abbott, who is out of contract at end of year. Abbas is other overseas out of contract. Barker is also out of contract and may also be the one to stay but only one of the three, in my opinion. We have a great bowling coach so off the field is not an issue. Opening batting has been a big issue for a few years now but Middleton and Orr look the future and will develop. Hampshire are one of the better fielding sides. Agree we make mistakes but so do the others. Essex dropped catches and mis fielded as much as we did. White ball was poor this season and everyone is scratching their heads on this. Our coach is also the coach to SA T20 team who have won the competition for the last two years so it is not lack of his experience. On red ball no one can fully compete with Surrey. They are miles ahead. However the coach identified two areas where we could be more competitive. One was to try to increase the batting over rate by one per over and the other was to be fitter. The whole team came back this season fitter and slimmer. Very noticeable with Dawson and Abbott in particular. Let us not forget we are 4th in the Championship. Not as high as we want to be but with a good future. Let's see how the last 4 games go.

What would you consider we change? We have a world class 1st team coach, one of the best captains in championship and we are likely to have new owners before next season.

Nothing is happening with james Vince at present. His contract with Hampshire is until the end of 2025 season. He is very unlikely to be selected by England. that bird has flown. I did hear a suggestion that he has been offered a new contract but he is doing nothing at present because of the situation with the attacks on his home, still unresolved. One of the most lucrative contracts is the Pakistan Super League but that is to be held in April/May in 2025 because Pakistan hosting the ICC Trophy in February. At his age it might just be too much to turn down! Let me make it clear, he loves Hampshire and hoped to see out his career here but those attacks on him home and the distress being caused to his wife and two young children as well as his mum and dad may just be too much to take!!