No business...

Luciano Pavarotti and Billy Joel are not names Hampshire would normally single out as reasons for financial failure. But with the last yearly loss a reported £900,000, it was a major setback when their Rose Bowl concerts did not deliver.

Joel sold only around half his 20,000 tickets and the ailing fat man failed to sing at all. When heavy rain washed out the televised day-nighter with Surrey, Hampshire never got the chance to show off their £250,000 stillpristine floodlights or make the most of an expected big crowd.

There were heart-stopping moments, too, when the oneday series with Pakistan was in danger of being cancelled. That would have cost Hampshire another £250,000. Rod Bransgrove, the chairman, says Hampshire are getting the better of their problems but, with the days of big-money signings drawing to a (temporary) close, the county are pleased to see their academy bearing cheaper fruit.

Chris Benham is developing in the top order and watch out, down the line, for home-produced Tom Burrows, Mitchell Stokes, Kevin Latouf and, coming fast, a spin bowler, Liam Dawson.
Pat Symes