Hampshire have perfect pair

Rod Bransgrove believes that Shane Warne and Paul Terry are Hampshire's "perfect partnership".

Australia legend Warne is set to play his first Test in 15 months against Sri Lanka in Galle on March 8, when he will continue to race Muttiah Muraliatharan to 500 Test wickets.

The leg spinner is six wickets clear of Muralitharan's 485 but he is set to return to Hampshire as captain in less than six weeks and has been in regular contact with first team manager Paul Terry.

Bransgrove reckons it is a partnership that can help Hampshire win promotion to the county championship's first division.

He said: "Paul is a very quiet strategist, not very demonstrative whereas Shane is a dynamic character, a leader of men and they'll dovetail perfectly.

"It's vital to have a good strong, consistent management. That's certainly what it provides us with and I'm confident they'll take us where we need to go.

"Paul has always been one of the most knowledgeable people I've ever known in respect to the game of cricket but it's Shane that will help him to take those ideas, which extend well beyond just one or two years, into fruition.

"Shane's a very good on field tactician with a dynamic attitude to the game, he's a real achiever.

"He never steps over the rope without knowing that he can win the game and has already proven to be a very good leader of men, so it's the perfect partnership."

Warne is currently playing against a Sri Lankan President's XI in Colombo, his first game for Australia since returning from his 12-month ban, but will be in Southampton for Hampshire's Open Day on April 10.

"His primary intention is just to get back playing international cricket the way he knows he can and it wouldn't surprise me if he took his 500th wicket without realising it, he's that sort of person," added Bransgrove, who also reiterated his desire for Warne to end his career at the Rose Bowl. "He's on a one-year contract but with 2005 being an Ashes year we assume that he'll be touring with the Australians. But we'll have a good chat about the long term future when he's here."