Hampshire sign Shane Warne

Hampshire today announced the biggest signing in the Club's history.

Subject to the approval of the Australian Cricket Board, the Australian legspinner Shane Warne, has agreed to play for the County in the 2000 season on a one-year contract that is thought to be the most lucrative in the history of English cricket.

Shane Warne, who was 30 earlier this week, has been arguably the world's most successful bowler over the past decade, taking more than 300 wickets in Test cricket and topping 200 in one-day Internationals. He was man-of-the-match in the World Cup Final at Lord's this summer.

Hampshire expect to meet the cost of the financial package through a number of commercial opportunities together with a considerable increase in gates and membership.

Hampshire's Chief Executive, Tony Baker, says: "With the County's move to a new ground in 2001, this is a wonderful way to emphasise the extent of our ambitions going into the new millennium".