Hampshire's newest cricketing recruit checked in at the Rose Bowl this week - and promptly found himself doing odd jobs as a member of the ground staff!

Jono McLean, a 24 year old batsman from South Africa, is having to swap a cricket bat for a paint brush and also brush up on his tractor driving for the next few weeks. He's arrived well ahead of the new season as he needs to spend 210 days a year in this country until 2007 in order to qualify to play for England under the four year residential rule.

Jono has been given a two-year contract after impressing Hampshire officials with his batting in a handful of matches for the 2nd XI last summer, when he scored two centuries and averaged around 80.

After three years on the fringes of the Western Province senior team he had decided to try his luck in English cricket. He has a British passport as his parents, Brian and Rosie, were born and bred in England and emigrated to South Africa in 1978 - two years before he was born.

"It's the first time I had been here, although I have a number of relations in this country," he told me. "I wrote to several counties asking for a trial after agreeing to play league cricket at Hastings.

"Sussex said they had to concentrate on their contract players, but Hampshire offered me a chance and I did enough for them to offer me a contract.

"It seems a bit strange, painting out the offices and doing other odd jobs. But that's only until the players report back for duty in mid-March.

"In any case, I'm doing a lot of fitness work and spending a fair amount of time in the nets here."

Jono (short for Jonathan) can bat anywhere in the top six and is also an occasional seam bowler.

"My ambition is to gain a place in the Hampshire team, although I know how tough that will be with all the talent here," he says.

"I'm very impressed with everything at the Rose Bowl - it's a truly professional set up and I'm proud to be a small part of it.

"I met with Shane Warne last summer and he was so positive and complimentary about my batting. "I hope I can impress him again this year!"

If he can make the same impact as fellow countryman, Kevin Pietersen, Hampshire will be more than happy!