Hampshire chose from 13 for Twenty20 launch

Hampshire Hawks inaugural match in the Twenty20 Cup gets underway at 5.30pm on Friday against Sussex Sharks at The Rose Bowl, in an evening that promises a large crowd, fun and games before the game and a pop concert after.

The inovative event arranged jointly by Rose Bowl plc and the ECB, launches the new competition to the country in front the Sky TV viewers.

Hampshire Cricket manager Paul Terry choses from 13 players, the same eleven that defeated Durham in the National League last Sunday, plus James Hamblin and Lawrence Prittipaul.

Speaking to the manager yesterday, Paul intimated that James Hamblin could be brought into the side, his is an excellent player in the faster style that this competition needs.

"There is a real buzz, about the Rose Bowl" said Terry, "we know we have a responsibility to put on a good show in front of an expected sell out crowd and the TV viewers."

"We have played some good cricket in the past month, and I could not fault the players in failing to gain an extra wicket in the Championship match against Durham, it was tremendous to get 17 wickets in the day".

Hampshire Hawks 13: Derek Kenway, John Crawley (captain), Robin Smith, Simon Katich, Will Kendall, Nic Pothas (wicket-keeper), Dimitri Mascarenhas, Wasim Akram, Shaun Udal, Alan Mullally, Ed Giddins, James Hamblin, Lawrence Prittipaul.