Lewis McManus took over the gloves from Adam Wheater for Hampshire in 2016, a decision that contributed to Wheater's move to Essex at the end of the season. McManus' 132 against Surrey in a high-scoring match at the Ageas Bowl - his maiden Championship hundred which came after he ran out Sean Ervine early in his innings - encouraged Hampshire to put their trust in him as well as persuading Wheater to return from whence he came.

McManus is a busy wicketkeeper-batsman from Bournemouth who has come through Hampshire's academy. He was part of the county's Under-17 side that won the 50-over cup in 2011 and performed strongly for Hampshire Academy in the Southern Premier League. An average of 36 in second XI cricket earned him a call-up for the England Under-19s in February 2014 where he was named in the World Cup squad.

He impressed with both the bat and behind the stumps during two first-team appearances for Hampshire in 2015. Under immense pressure from a rampant Durham bowling attack, his plucky maiden Championship half-century saw Hampshire through to what proved to be a vital draw in a season where they stayed up on the last day. Runs came steadily thereafter, enough to dislodge Wheater without ranking him as one of the most prolific batsman-keepers in the country.
ESPNcricinfo staff