SHAUN UDAL, left out of the Hampshire team for their opening victory of the 2004 season, remains "as good a spinner as England have got."

And captain Shane Warne believes the former England man has "a big part" to play in the months ahead.

Udal was omitted from the Hampshire team that beat Durham in a Rose Bowl nail-biter on Monday.

Warne was preferred as the county's sole spinner with Alan Mullally, Billy Taylor, Chris Tremlett and Dimi Mascarenhas providing the seam bowling options.

Udal - who made the last of his 10 one-day appearances for England nine years ago - played 12 of the 16 championship matches during Warne's first season with Hampshire in 2000.

While Warne was second in the county averages back then with 70 first class victims at 23.14, Udal was third with 30 wickets at 27.26.

Warne, who bagged match figures of 7-95 against Durham, said: "It's not easy in this country as a spin bowler early season with the climate and the wickets being as they.

"But Shaun Udal's as good a spin bowler as England have got and he's going to play a big part this summer.

"Hopefully, if we have a hot summer like we did last year over here, the wickets are going to turn a lot more and he can play a big part.

"What he's achieved has been a good effort, he's a wonderful off-spin bowler, he's proven that in one-day cricket and in four-day cricket.

"He's had a shoulder operation in the winter and after watching him bowl for the last week or so he looks pretty good, he's in good shape."