HAMPSHIRE'S quest to re-tain the Liberty Trophy has been given a major boost by the arrival of current England international Kevin Cousins.

The bowler, who made his name with Wiltshire and Salisbury club Five Rivers, has moved into the Hampshire association by joining East Dorset.

Hampshire team manager Peter Line is delighted to have Cousins in the fold - and the quality of this former England under-25 singles champion was mirrored in the county's Liberty Trophy warm-up match against Oxfordshire when he skipped his rink to a 26-11 thrashing of fellow England bowler Les Gillett.

Line's summer of content does not end there as Hampshire have another high-class newcomer in Mervyn Sallis, who qualified for the national play-offs at Melton Mowbray in the both the triples and fours last winter while with the Wey Valley club, Guildford.

Sallis, runner-up in the Surrey outdoor pairs championship too, has changed indoor clubs and is now with Hampshire association members Chawton Park at Alton. He starred as well in the 128-104 triumph over Oxfordshire playing at number two.

Sallis is the first bowler from the recently-formed Chawton Park to be called up for Liberty Trophy duty - and Palmerston have also chalked up their first cap with the inclusion of Livingston Bell. Scot Bell may be in his 60s but is another valuable asset to Hampshire having won the over-60s national singles championship last winter after retiring to the South Coast. Such a fine performance alerted Line to his ability and, again, good displays in the county trial and then against Oxfordshire, have earned him his place in the side to face Essex at Watford on Saturday, October 30.

In all Line makes five changes to the side that won the Liberty Trophy in such brilliant style against Durham in April. Besides the three new faces already mentioned, there is a debut for Dave Cole of Longmeadow.

Cole leads for Standley at club level and though he has been consistent indoors, he really shone for the Whitchurch club in the summer when he helped the Standley rink reach Worthing in both triples and fours. The other alteration is a recall for county regular Peter Hobday who missed the Liberty final because of a family holiday. They re-place Nicky Smith and Steve Fox, who have given up county indoor bowls, and Andy Ross and Colin Brewer who are omitted. Dave Dunford drops to reserve.

Rink scores against Oxon:

Graham Standley 21 G Lucas 13; Peter Ward 23 I Snowdon 18; Julian Haines 23 A Prew 21; Russell Morgan 18 H Watts 21; Kevin Cousins 26 L Gillett 11; Nicky Jones 17 M Hyde 20.

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