Hampshire had the chance to recruit new seamer Billy Taylor six years ago - but signed Peter Hartley and Alex Morris instead.

Taylor, who was then just 20, did not take more than one wicket in any of Hampshire's second XI championship games he played in but fared better in the AON Trophy, taking a five-wicket haul in one match. But it was not enough to win him a contract.

Now Taylor is back at his home county after signing a three-year contract last Friday.

Director of cricket Tim Tremlett said: "It's nice to get Billy back to the club he wants to play for.

"He had a good season in 1997 but he was unlucky because it was around the time we signed Peter Hartley and Alex Morris from Yorkshire.

"It was unfortunate that we couldn't sign him on at the time. It was a financial decision as much as anything and we felt we needed to bring in two senior bowlers.

"What Billy did do was work very hard on his game. He's always been a whole-hearted cricketer and coming to Hampshire is a really big opportunity for him to push on.

"He's got a very good track record in one-day cricket and the key thing is that he wants to play for Hampshire. He's always wanted to play for Hampshire."

Hampshire are keen to learn from the experience they suffered last season, when 30-plus bowlers Wasim Akram and Ed Giddins were both forced to retire mid-campaign through injury and illness.

"Paul Terry is looking to get a younger side and Billy fits into that category. He tends not to get injured and he's learnt his trade on a flat Hove pitch," explained Tremlett.

"Even though pitches are getting better here, the Rose Bowl should be more of an advantage to him."