Nic Pothas believes Shane Warne will struggle to match the heights of Mushtaq Ahmed for Hampshire - because county umpires cannot read him.

Sussex leg spinner Mushtaq has helped his county win two championship titles in four years by twice taking a century of wickets.

The Pakistani has not played regular Test cricket for nearly six years so has been available to play for Sussex throughout the county season - as Warne will be able to following his retirement from international cricket.

Warne's Test commitments have meant he has had to miss an average of four championship games a season during his three years as Hampshire captain.

Providing he stays clear of injuries, he should now be available for Hampshire throughout the next two seasons.

But Pothas doubts he will match the championship-winning hauls of Mushtaq, who claimed 103 and 102 wickets in 2003 and 2006.

Pothas said: "County umpires can't read Shane Warne, he's had decisions given against him purely because they have not understood what he is trying to do.

"One even said that he didn't give an lbw because the ball was turning too much when it was a top spinner!"

Warne ended his Test career yesterday with 706 wickets, but Pothas does not believe the Hampshire skipper will be any more potent for his county now that he has given up his Australia commitments.

He added: "Warney only shows about 70 per cent of his variations for Hampshire because they are wasted on most county players.

"He knows exactly what he's doing, he's an extremely intelligent cricketer who does what he has to do to get people out.

"That doesn't mean he isn't totally committed, he just turns it on more when he has to, like when there's an overseas player at the crease.

"He's also wary of bowling too many variations because it makes people more aware of them, and we have to remember he's 38, and that it's a long season."

Warne's best championship tally for Hampshire remains the 73 he took in 2000, his first season with the county, when he played 15 games.

Meanwhile, Pothas has hit back at last month's assertion from John Buchanan, the Australia manager, that Kevin Pietersen is not a team player.

Pothas said: "A lot of rubbish has been said and written about KP, that was just Australia trying to unsettle him.

"I've never found him to be a problem, he's a very helpful bloke in the dressing room."