Hampshire players return for pre-season training

Hampshire's players reported back for pre-season training after the Easter holidays today, with four fresh faces and a new trainer/physiotherapist to meet.

Captain Robin Smith, who returned this weekend from hosting a touring party to New Zealand, introduced new signings John Crawley and Nic Pothas to the squad, along with last seasons' successful second XI players Chris Benham and James Tomlinson, who joined the full time staff.

Crawley, after his traumatic winter, was fitting in well with his new teammates and looked in fine touch in the nets against the pace-men and the spinners. He was also marvelling in the splendour of his new surrounds.

Pothas, the South African who holds a Greek passport, confessed to having never previously met his new captain Robin Smith before today.

He was reminded, however, by the webmaster and club statistician that it was Smith who had caught him out in December 1995, when he hit his maiden first-class century (147) for South African Combined Universities against the England tourists at Pietermaritzberg.

Overseas star Neil Johnson, all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas and batsman-wicketkeeper Iain Brunnschweiler were missing, as they are still involved in their domestic cricket in South Africa and Australia respectively.

Also making his first appearance with Hampshire was Australian trainer Patrick Farhart, who was kept busy during the day with various niggles, including a stress fracture problem for James Schofield and the continued recuperation of spinner Charlie van der Gucht.