SHANE WARNE has revealed the blueprint for the English county he wants to join next seasonand it fits Hampshire perfectly.

Hampshire admitted yesterday that they have entered tentative preliminary discussions to try and bring the world's greatest spin bowler to The County Ground next season.

Although the competition for Warne's services is likely to be red hot, with just about every county in England scrambling for his services, Warne revealed that his choice of club could be a surprise.

Warne is currently in Queensland with the Australian squad preparing for their tour to Sri Lanka, and he said briefly: "I'd like to come to England next summer but I wouldn't necessarily be looking to join one of the bigger counties.

"Everybody assumes I will go to the county that offers me the most money but that's not the only consideration.

"Ideally, I would like to join one of the middle-ranging counties who have a crop of good promising youngsters that I could help out and bring on."

That sort of mission statement from the man still regarded as possibly cricket's biggest draw card can only provide encouragement to try and find the money to meet the sort of salary Warne's skills can command.

Warne is certainly keen for a change of scenery to freshen him up as he comes under increasing pressure in Australia.

His preeminence as Oz's sharpest spin weapon is under threat from Stuart MacGill, while only yesterday he was relieved of the captaincy of his state side Victoria.

Warne's international commitments and amount of time he spends away forced the State to appoint another captain, but a source Down Under said: "He's been captain for the past two seasons but he's never here because of international commitments.

"Victoria said they weren't going to reappoint him as captain and he's not happy about it. Being captain of Victoria is something he holds very dear."

Hampshire's players are playing it cool over the speculation that the county could be in the hunt for Warne, and vice-captain Shaun Udal said: "He would be a tremendous boost for which ever county he decides to join.

"But everybody seems to forget that we have a great overseas player at the moment in Nixon McLean."

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