Hampshire should be pretty satisfied with second place in the County Championship; a sigificant achievement, having come third the last two seasons. They lost just one game, that to Champions Surrey, while they won six, including an innings victory over Surrey and a defeat of Somerset in the last game. The disappointment will be their exit from the Vitality Blast in the group stages, finishing seventh in the South Group with just four wins, although they had three games abandoned. This is a competition they have traditionally been strong in, making finals day in each of the last three years. Hampshire were third in their group in the Metro Bank One Day Cup, but lost to Leicestershire off the penultimate ball in the quarter final.
To win four day games you have to take 20 wickets and they continue to rely on the overseas duo of Kyle Abbott and Mohammad Abbas with the new ball. Abbott is now 37, but finished second highest wicket taker in Division One with 55 at 20.36, including five five-wicket hauls. He played in all 13 Championship matches, the opening fixture against Durham having been abandoned without a ball bowled. Abbas took 36 wickets at 24.25, but the next seamer was 37-year-old Keith Barker, who took 16 in just four matches played. The standout performer was Liam Dawson who excelled in all formats and took 54 Championship wickets at 25.14. The spin threat also came from Felix Organ’s off spin, taking 16 wickets in seven games.
James Vince led their Championship run scoring with 986 at 49.30, with Dawson just behind on 956 at 59.75. Nick Gubbins also had a productive season scoring 895 runs at 55.93, while the best of the youngsters was Fletcha Middleton with 604 runs at 30.20. He and Toby Albert have been opening the batting in recent games, Albert averaging 32.33. Hampshire had recruited Ali Orr from Sussex as an opening partner for Middleton, but it remains a problem position with the opening partnerships averaging just 16 for the season, with only one passing 50.
Michael Neser and Ben McDermott came in for the Blast, Neser for the first half of the competition. While Neser took 11 wickets with an economy of 8.85, McDermott fell well short of what was expected, scoring just 237 at 21.54, with one half century. Joe Weatherley led the run scoring, but there were not enough big performances, despite defeating the eventual winners Gloucestershire both home and away.
The Hawks fared better in the One Day Cup, but even though they were able to bring in Dawson and John Turner for the quarter final against Leicestershire, a 94 run sixth wicket stand between Ben Cox and Liam Trevaskis allowed the Foxes to get over the line.
Results
Vitality CC: Second in Division One
Vitality Blast: Seventh in the South Group
Metro Bank ODC: Losing quarter finalist
Leading run-scorers
Vitality CC: James Vince 986 at 49.30
Vitality Blast: Joe Weatherley 324 at 36.00; Strike rate 127.05
Metro Bank ODC: Ben Brown 286 at 35.75; Strike rate 85.88
Leading wicket-takers
Vitality CC: Kyle Abbott 55 at 20.36
Vitality Blast: John Turner 15 at 22.26; Economy rate 9.72
Metro Bank ODC: Brad Wheal 13 at 27.15; Economy rate 5.00
Player of the season
Liam Dawson cleaned up the end of season awards, becoming the PCA player of the year. He has starred with bat and ball, having now reached 10,195 runs and 350 wickets in first class cricket. It has left many wondering why he has not been considered for the Pakistan tour, the 34-year-old’s last Test being back in 2017. He had made his debut the previous winter, playing in the final Test against India, a series England lost 4-0. He made an unbeaten 66 in England’s first innings and took two for 129 in India’s innings of 759/7 declared. Dawson then appeared in the first two Tests of the four match home series against South Africa the next summer and took five wickets. However Moeen Ali took 14 in the same two Tests and he was favoured when they went with just one spinner for the final two games of the series. Dawson has not featured again. He has played in T20Is and ODIs as recently as 2022, but while he has held his own with the ball, he has been short of runs. Given the current selection policy favouring potential rather than experience, it would seem that further opportunities are now unlikely.
Breakthrough Player
Hampshire will be looking at their ageing pace attack and planning a succession process. John Turner made two Championship appearances ion 2024, but is seen more as a white ball cricketer and the hope must be for England under 19 quicks, Dominic Kelly and Eddie Jack to push on. Kelly has just turned 19 and played in eight of the One Day Cup games, taking 10 wickets at 20.3 with a good economy rate of 4.83 runs per over. Jack also took 10 wickets in five games with an economy of 4.99 and both will be hoping for an opportunity with the red ball in 2025.
Could have done better
The Hawks will undoubtedly have looked closely at what went wrong in the Blast and will want to be more competitive next season. McDermott was disappointing and other than Weatherley, the batting was not productive enough. Chris Wood is now a short format specialist and picked up 12 wickets, going at a commendable 7.76 runs per over, while James Fuller and Turner were rather expensive.
Need to work on
As has already been mentioned, Hampshire have been heavily reliant on Abbott and Abbas in red ball cricket. There is no news as yet of whether they will be returning in 2025, but they have been loyal servants of the club, Abbott since 2017 and Abbas for the last four years. Hampshire supporters will expect to see them, but more opportunities will need to be given to the likes of Turner, Kelly and Jack.
What’s next?
Hampshire have been in the top three of the Championship every year post COVID and moved up to second this summer following strong performances in the latter half of the season, their six wins coming from their last nine matches. They know Surrey are beatable and could be the ones to topple them. Certainly their position looks to have been strengthened following the announcement that they are to be taken over by Delhi Capitals co-owners the GMR Group.
This is reported to be a “phased acquisition” which will see GMR invest £120m to take an immediate 53% stake in the club, with plans to gain 100% control in the next two years. This follows the investment made by Rod Bransgrove back in 2000 that saved the club from bankruptcy and facilitated the move from Northlands Road in Southampton, to the Utilita Bowl. GMR are also said to have plans to purchase the Southern Brave Hundred franchise when that comes up for sale.
Season Rating
If the County Championship is still considered the top prize, Hampshire can be well satisfied with the season. However they will be unhappy with the performance in the Blast and will be wanting to be back at finals day.
Mark: 7.5/10
