SHANE WARNE is calling on his shell-shocked Hampshire squad to "stay strong" after suffering a Rose Bowl thrashing by Second Division championship table-toppers Nottinghamshire.
Less than a week after Hants' C & G Trophy exit at Gloucestershire, Hampshire were caned by an innings and 44 runs in just two days after being bowled out for 113 yesterday.
But Warne reckons Hampshire's first championship defeat since he took over as the captain CAN spur them on.
He said: "We were just totally outplayed but it's not a train smash, we've just got to make sure we bounce back.
"We've had a chat and all I told the guys is to make sure we learn from this because we don't want it happening again.
"We didn't bat well enough, we didn't bowl well enough and nothing really went our way either but during the season you're going to have a couple of shockers in both forms of the game.
"We've had one bad one day game against Lancashire and we've just had one bad one here which is the way it goes - it's just about how we bounce back.
"We did that on Sunday. After a poor result in the C & G we would have probably won with ten overs to spare (against Kent in the totesport League) if it hadn't rained.
"I still believe we're a very good side, we've just got to stay strong in what we believe in."
Nottinghamshire began the second day on 185 for 5, still 14 runs behind Hampshire's first innings 199.
But Mark Ealham (96) and David Hussey put on 143 for the sixth wicket as Notts established a 157-run lead.
Warne, who claimed his 900th first class wicket yesterday, added: "That's the best I've seen Ealham bat. He and Hussey had a real good partnership which probably decided the game.
"But we could have bowled a bit better, this is the first game of the season where we haven't bowled really well."
Hampshire were then skittled in just 35.4 overs.
"It was a combination of some good bowling and some bad shots, we couldn't even get ourselves in a position where we could put some pressure on them," added Warne.
"It was one of those games where we lost wickets in pairs, which you can't afford, but there are no dramas as far as the batsmen are concerned.
"It might not be going that well at the moment but weigh it all up at the end of the season and make your judgements then."
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