HAMPSHIRE will be without all three overseas players for two matches in six weeks' time - following a shock recall for Australian one day star Shane Watson.

Hampshire captain Shane Warne and Michael Clarke have, as expected, been called up for Australia's forthcoming tour of Zimbabwe.

Warne is in the Test squad and Clarke has been joined in the one-day squad by Watson, who is back in favour after a 15 month absence.

All-rounder Watson was signed by Hampshire to replace either Warne or Clarke when they are on Test and one-day duty respectively.

But his recall, 15 months after he missed the World Cup with a back injury, means that Hampshire will be without all three of their Australian stars when they play Kent in the Totesport League (Rose Bowl, May 31) and Nottinghamshire in the county championship (Rose Bowl, June 2-5).

Hampshire can sign a maximum of four overseas players during the course of the season but will not be bringing in anyone as cover at this stage.

Manager Paul Terry said: "I knew Shane Watson would be called up eventually because he's that good a player but I didn't expect it to happen so soon.

"I thought it might happen later in the year, maybe for the Champions Trophy if he had a good season for us, and I am a little surprised because there is a bit of a doubt over whether is he fit enough to bowl.

"I'm delighted for him but we'll just have to deal with it and it's a good chance for someone else to show what they can do.

"We'll see how we go with other people, there's a lot of cricket later in the year, so we will wait before we think about bringing in a fourth overseas player."

Clarke, 23, and Watson, 22, meet up with the rest of the Australia one-day squad on May 31, so will miss that day's one day game against Kent and two more Totesport League games, against Warwickshire and Essex, as well as the championship matches against Nottinghamshire and Essex (Chelmsford, June 9-12).

Watson is set to make his Hampshire debut as a replacement for Warne against Yorkshire in the county championship at Headingley from May 12 -15.

Warne will also miss Totesport League games against Lancashire (Old Trafford, May 16) and Gloucestershire (Bristol, May 23) as well as a three-day friendly against Cardiff UCCE, but Watson will be available to replace him for those matches.

Manager Paul Terry is yet to confirm who will captain the side in Warne's absence but the likelihood is that John Crawley will 'fill in', as he did for the whole of last season.

Australia play two Test matches in Zimbabawe, which should be more than enough for Warne to take the three wickets he needs to surpass Courtney Walsh's record of 517, as well as three one-day internationals.

All the matches will be played in Harare and Bulawayo.