Match Preview: Worcestershire v Hampshire - Specsavers County Championship

Hampshire will be looking to secure consecutive red-ball wins over Worcestershire as James Vince’s side head to New Road this week in search of their second victory of the campaign against the home-side.

Hampshire Squad

A 13-man squad has been named for this week’s four-day contest with James Vince expected to skipper the side for at least the start of the fixture, ahead of England’s squad announcement for the fifth Test later this week.

Opener Jimmy Adams will play his first game since announcing his end of season retirement on Sunday and will once again pair with Joe Weatherley at the top of the order.

Rilee Rossouw is unavailable after travelling back to South Africa for the birth of his second child, but compatriot Dale Steyn returns to the squad having been absent for last week’s defeat at Chelmsford due to a groin injury.

Batsman Oliver Soames is also included once again after impressing this season for Hampshire 2XI whilst new signing Aneurin Donald is again included in the travelling party.

The Opposition:

Worcestershire have recorded two victories in this year’s Specsavers County Championship but currently sit bottom of Division One with four games remaining, eight points adrift of Hampshire who occupy sixth place.

Daryl Mitchell’s side put in a good performance last time out against Lancashire and, after bowling the hosts out for just 161 in their first-innings, looked likely to pick up a valuable victory, but an unbeaten century from Dane Vilas saw Worcestershire suffer another difficult defeat.

Mitchell and Joe Clarke will likely be the biggest dangers with the bat having totalled 750 and 693 runs respectively in 10 top-tier contests so far. Right-arm seamer Ed Barnard has been Worcestershire’s star with the ball having already claimed 35 victims at an average of just 22.37 this season.

Destructive all-rounder Moeen Ali is expected to absent for the home side after lining up for England’s fourth Test against India at the The Ageas Bowl this week – he is expected to be included in the side for Friday’s fifth Test at the Oval.

Did You Know?

• Jimmy Adams averages an impressive 46.95 with the bat in 13 first-class matches against Worcestershire.
• Hampshire have lost just one of their last seven first-class matches against Worcestershire.
• Kyle Abbott claimed match figures of 7-90 whilst also striking a half-century with the bat when these two sides met earlier this season. 

Full Hampshire Squad

Coverage:

Match updates will be available via the Hampshire Cricket social media channels, whilst ball-by-ball coverage and match highlights will be available at ageasbowl.com/cricket.

There will be ball-by-ball commentary available on BBC Radio Solent online at bbc.co.uk.

Weather Forecast:

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