John Crawley has been named as Hampshire skipper - but he will not have a vice-captain.

England batsman Crawley, 31, was one of the many candidates for the job once it was revealed that Shane Warne would not be able to replace Robin Smith as captain.

Crawley, below, captained Lancashire for three years after new Hampshire teammate Wasim Akram left Old Trafford four years ago.

And he will skipper Hampshire in his second season with the county despite the fact that he is likely to play Test cricket for England this summer, and the interest in the post from former vice captains Shaun Udal and Will Kendall.

At a Rose Bowl press conference today, before captaining Hampshire for the first time in a two-day pre-season friendly against Somerset at the Rose Bowl, Crawley said: "It's an honour and a privilege.

"When the job was offered to me on Thursday morning I immediately accepted.

"I have always said that it isn't something you should seek, but seriously consider when asked."

Crawley will not have a deputy when the season begins with a championship match against Worcestershire at New Road on Good Friday, April 18.

Hampshire first team manager Paul Terry said: "John and myself will be selecting the team but we've decided to dispense with a vice captain because we feel that there are enough good people and good leaders to take care of the team if and when John is unavailable."

Three weeks ago Crawley told the Daily Echo that he would have to think carefully about taking the job on.

He said: "It's a huge honour to be asked to be captain of a county but it's an important, time consuming and all consuming job.

"I might not be around for most of the time so I'd have to think about the pros and cons for myself and the club as a whole.

"Having said that, it can happen. At Essex they have Nasser Hussain as club captain and Ronnie Irani as team captain but it depends on what Hampshire want to do."

Crawley is not one of the contracted England players but he is likely to be involved in the summer series against Zimbabwe and South Africa.

A decision on a stand-in captain would surely have to be made when he is unavailable for Hampshire.

Either of the overseas players - Wasim or Australian Simon Katich - may be in a position to stand in for Crawley once they have a few games for Hampshire under their belts.

And Hampshire have no shortage of experience in Robin Smith, Udal and Kendall, not to mention Nic Pothas, Alan Mullally and Ed Giddins to call on.

Crawley captained Lancashire from 1999-2001 and England Young Cricketers in 1991.

And he has an impressive record as a county captain.

In his first season as skipper at Old Trafford he led Lancashire to the National League title, the Natwest Trophy and Benson & Hedges Cup quarter finals, and runners-up spot in the county championship.

Lancashire finished second and sixth in the championship in his last two seasons at the helm, and also reached the semi finals of THREE one-day competitons - the C&G/Natwest and the B & H.