Hampshire manager Paul Terry has told his players to enjoy playing in front of the club's biggest crowd since 1950 when the Twenty20 Cup begins with tonight's televised clash against Sussex.

A sell out crowd of more than 9,000 will be the biggest in the Rose Bowl's three-year history and Hampshire's largest attendance for a one-day match since limited overs cricket began in the early 1970s.

The crowd that descends on the Rose Bowl for one-day cricket's latest competition will also be the third biggest attendance for a day of Hampshire cricket since the club was founded in 1863.

In 1934, more than 10,000 watched Sir Donald Bradman depart for a duck at Northlands Road as Hampshire drew with the 1934 Australians.

And 16 years later, a similar sized Northlands Road crowd watched Hampshire draw against a West Indies side including Sir Everton Weekes, Sir Clyde Walcott and Roy Marshall, who began his glittering career with the county five years later.

But Hampshire's biggest crowd since then is reckoned to be the 6,000 that watched the Rose Bowl's first floodlit match two years ago, when Sussex, tonight's opponents, were the visitors.

That Rose Bowl record will be shattered tonight and Terry, who has dropped former teammate Robin Smith for tonight's big match, said: "It's going to be really exciting for the club and for the players who have to perform in front of the crowd.

"We've been blessed with the first game so this is a special day for the club and all of our players, especially those who haven't played international cricket or played in one-day finals.

"Apart from anything else, it's a chance for them to put themselves in the shop window. Anthony McGrath was picked for England this year after Duncan Fletcher saw him play well in last year's C&G Trophy final and Robin was selected for his first Test after batting well against Devon Malcolm and Michael Holding when we won the NatWest Trophy in 1988.

"This competition has the potential to do the same, but if you are afraid of playing in front of a big crowd you shouldn't be there. You absolutely have to want to be in that situation.

"Players should want to show off. If you do well as a batsman or a bowler in a pressure situation it's great fun."

Hampshire Cricket are operating a park and ride scheme from the Bursledon Market area (opposite Tesco's) with forward journeys from 3.30pm-6pm and return journeys from 9.30pm-midnight.