Warned and wiser
A season of success brought international recognition for the Rose Bowl and was matched by the county's performance under Shane Warne
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Though Warne may be occupied with the Ashes next season, he leaves behind a team that has bought into his way of playing cricket. "Warney has been such an influence," says the first-team manager Paul Terry. "He has been positive and that has had a great effect on the club. He has shown us how to enjoy our cricket. After all Warney has been through, his love for the game is amazing. That rubbed off on everyone else and there were very few if any sessions when we were not totally up for it. He was always looking to create openings and keep us on our toes.
"Hopefully next season he will be with us until July, which is a fair chunk of the season."
The chairman Rod Bransgrove heard Warne and the team sing their victory song `Glory, Glory Hampshire' down his mobile phone nine times this year. With only two defeats to go with those victories, promotion in the Championship was assured by early August.
"It has been a lot more of a team effort," says Terry. "Everyone has made a contribution. We have had three or four guys chip in with the bowling to help Warney. But we know we need to improve in certain areas. Getting into Division One means you have to strengthen your squad."
With Will Kendall having left and Michael Clarke unlikely to be available next summer, a batsman will be one priority. The other will be making the most of Warne's shortened season.
Player of the Year: Dimitri Mascarenhas, who averaged 18.67 with the ball in the Championship
High: Winning first three games of the season, which was one more than the whole of 2003
Low: Nine-wicket thrashing in Twenty20 quarter-final
This article was first published in the November issue of The Wisden Cricketer.
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