Hampshire holding talks with Alan Mullally

Hampshire County Cricket Club today annouced that they are holding talks with Leicestershire and England left-arm seamer Alan Mullally, which could make him a Hampshire player next week for the second time.

A week after signing Shane Warne, Hampshire are set to complete one of the summer's least-guarded secrets by signing the England fast bowler.

Mullally, who recently quoted that he wanted to leave Leicestershire once his contract had expired, said "I have held talks with Hampshire and presumably they will put a contract in front of me.

"I would like to sign as I think they're going places with the ground move and Shane Warne signing. Who wouldn't want to play in the same attack as him."

Doubts have been expressed with regard to Mullally's availability as he is a virtual certainty for England's summer series against the West Indies, but Hampshire feel the outlay is worth it, for what they see could produce the most devastating attack in the county game.

Captain Robin Smith is now keen to try and pick up a top batsman, quoting "There may be one or two other surprises to come."