THE thwack of wood on willow may be the sound traditionally associated with cricket but now it's the click of a mouse that will link Hampshire Cricket fans with a variety of new online facilities.

For the first time in the club's 141 years, it is possible to buy tickets to see star bowler Shane Warne and the team in this season's ICC Champions Trophy, Twenty20 Cup and One-Day International matches online.

The facility is already proving to be a success with more than 40 per cent of sales of international matches purchased online in the short time it has been live.

Both The Rose Bowl (www.rosebowlplc.com) and Hampshire Cricket (www.hampshirecricket-.com) now have an official Web presence.

There is also the opportunity to buy replica kits and club memberships online.

Managing director Nick Pike said: "With such a full and important season ahead of us, it was vital that we created new Web pages that offer both easy access and the facility to buy online.

"We are looking forward to further developing both the facility and the information in the future."