HAMPSHIRE new boy Jono McLean is preparing for his first season of county cricket - by working for the Rose Bowl ground staff.

South African McLean, 24, decided to resurrect his career in England after his opportunities at Western Province were restricted.

The British passport holder was snapped up on a two-year contract by Hampshire after scoring 266 runs at 88.66, including one hundred, while playing three championship matches for the second XI last year.

His first-team chances have been enhanced by the phenomenal start to Kevin Pietersen's international career and the right hander is settling in to The Rose Bowl - with the help of his temporary job as a member of groundsman Nigel Gray's staff.

He said: "I've been doing a lot of painting but, when the pitch dries out a bit, I'd like to work out on the square and find out how it is likely to play.

"It will help to have that extra knowledge, to see what the pitch will do and it's certainly nice to do something different.

"It's a very new experience. I don't think it will be a future career but I'll enjoy doing it for the next month, then try and get into the first team.

"If an opportunity jumps up, I'm prepared to bat anywhere to prove myself."

Occasional right-arm seamer McLean played the last of his six first class matches for Western Province 16 months ago.

He scored 162 runs at 20.25 for his province before trying his luck in England. McLean played for Hastings Priory in the Sussex League last season before being given his chance in Tony Middleton's second XI.

He added: "I went to Sussex but they said I would only bat eight for them. But Hampshire let me bat up the order, at three or four and as an opener.

"I met most of the players. They seem like a great bunch of guys, and Shane Warne was so complimentary and positive about the whole set-up.

"It seems like he's had a huge influence. Everyone here wants Hampshire to be a force to be reckoned with."

McLean's parents, Brian and Rosie, moved to South Africa from England in 1978 - but the Johannesburg-born right hander has an extended family in the UK.

"My parents are from Somerset and Kent and I've got a lot of cousins over here, including one in Dorset, who I've got to know properly for the first time.

"And there are plenty of other South Africans who have done what I'm doing because of the lack of chances. When the nine South African provinces amalgamated and were reduced to five, my opportunities were reduced.

"Claude Henderson, the Leicester-shire left armer, is the best spinner we've got, but he feels he can't get back in the South Africa side, so is playing over here as well.

"The standard here has risen over the last few years and it looks like that will continue. The England side is now number two in the world, so it's a good place to be."

McLean's long-term ambitions include Test cricket with England when he completes his four-year residency qualification.