Billy Taylor became the 13th Hampshire player to take a first class hat-trick, and admitted: "It's good to be back."

Taylor was substituted when he made his last championship appearance, against his former county Sussex last July, but he celebrated his return to the side with career best figures of 6-32 - and a memorable treble.

He said: "Opportunities haven't been there for me for a while so I'm just pleased to be playing - getting a hat-trick was a massive bonus."

Chris Tremlett was the last Hampshire player to take a hat-trick, against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge last July, and Darren Gough took the The Rose Bowl's only other hat-trick, for an England XI last June.

Taylor's two other hat-tricks came in one-day matches for Sussex in 2002.

He added: "Any wicket means a lot to me but hat-tricks are all special and it was nice to get because I've been on hat trick balls three or four times in the championship and never got them.

"I don't go out looking to break milestones but if they come along it's something special. It's good to have something to remember.

"A hat-trick can never be taken away from me, so it's great to have. But it's important to go on from here and do well in the second innings."

Taylor, who was recalled for the C & G Trophy win against Essex on Monday, is playing his first full championship game since the defeat against Middlesex at Southgate last July.

He added: "I've been fully fit for the last two years and have been raring to go. The guys have been doing the business but I've been waiting for my chance and thankfully I got it today.

"I was trying to think the last time I played, it's been a while and I don't like not playing.

"I'm not a very good watcher, so it was good to be out there.

"Warney gave me a big opportunity in the one dayer and I thanked him for that and I found out that I was playing again this morning.

"With there being only two front line seamers in the squad, I thought I had a good chance of playing, because I was really pleased with how the one day game went.

"And when I know someone of Warney's calibre rates me, it's a big confidence boost.

"And the crowd have been fantastic, they've been behind me and it's great to have their support."

l Read the full Billy Taylor interview in this weekend's Pink.