Absent Dimitri has a point to prove

Dimitri Mascarenhas has a big job on his hands at the Rose Bowl, and not just because he is taking over from inspirational captain Shane Warne.

The first task for the new skipper will be to convince some Hampshire supporters that the county's welfare is vitally important to him. Not easy, perhaps, when he will be leaving them for at least a fortnight next month to play in the Indian Premier League.

"There has been no criticism so far, everyone has been supportive," said the 30-year-old all-rounder. "There was a chance the Hampshire members might feel a bit different but at this stage there's been nothing but positive [reactions]. I was only named captain after the IPL arrangement had been settled. Obviously it's not ideal for the captain to be missing but at this stage I'm only missing one championship game and three one-dayers."

Hampshire have become a real force under Warne. But without him and two other important bowlers in Shaun Udal (Middlesex) and James Bruce (retired), they could return to where Warne found them. "He brought us from second bottom of the Second Division to second place in the top division," said Mascarenhas.