YOU could forgive Hampshire all-rounder Dominic Cork for being a little distracted after the month he has just had.

In the last five weeks, the 37-year- old former England all rounder has narrowly avoided a terrorist attack and been one of the oldest players available at the Indian Premier League auction.

He escaped the shootings of the Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore, where he was commentating for Pakistan TV, by just a few minutes.

“I made the decision to go out there myself and it was a very close call, it’s something I never want to go through again,” he said.

A few weeks earlier, Cork had been up for auction at the IPL.

He explained: “Muttiah Muralidaran’s agent asked me if I fancied it.

"I knew I didn’t have a chance of getting signed up but thought I’d give it a go because I still want to play at the top end.

“That’s why I’ve signed for a first division county, but if the IPL ever came along again, of course I would play, any time of the week.”

After his eventful month on the sub-continent, Cork is preparing for the relatively gentle routine of his 20th season on the county circuit.

But he is hardly in familiar surroundings. He is sat in the Rose Bowl’s plush new Executive Club overlooking his new home midway through his first week of pre-season training with his third county.

Cork revealed that five counties were after his signature when Lancashire controversially released him towards the end of last season.

But it did not take much to persuade him to sign for Hampshire.

“Once I sat down with [chairman] Rod Bransgrove and discussed how he saw my role and where the club was going it was a very simple decision,” he admitted.

“Hampshire have been a side that perhaps has not achieved what they should have done.

"But what they’re doing now with the development is exciting, not just the ground but with the talent in the dressing room.

“Bowlers like [Chris] Tremlett, [David] Balcombe, [David] Griffiths and [James] Tomlinson, who was awesome last year, are the future of this club.

“To be a good side you need a strong squad and if those guys can keep going forward, stay fit and take wickets, we can win trophies.”

Encouragingly, Cork’s first-class bowling record at the Rose Bowl is better than it is at any other major county ground.

His 16 wickets at just 13.9 include a match haul of 10-67 while captaining Derbyshire to an innings win in 2003.

But Cork knows Hampshire have toughened up since then.

He said: “Whenever I’ve played against Hampshire recently I’ve seen that steel in them. With players like Nic Pothas and Dimi Mascarenhas, we bat the whole way down and every county bowler worries about John Crawley.

“I’ve known John a long time, I’m a big fan of his and always have been.”

Cork also needs no introduction Hampshire’s biggest matchwinner.

Imran Tahir will not return to the county until June but Cork already knows what the leg spinner can do.

He was in the Lancashire side against whom Tahir claimed record match figures of 12-189 on his Hampshire debut at Old Trafford last July.

“Imran is a superb overseas play er,” said Cork. “I played against him when he played for Staffordshire three years ago so I already knew about him.

“But he bowled very well on a pitch that helped him a bit. He’s my sort of guy, he was enthusiastic all day and deserved what he got in that game.”

Although Hampshire only drew that match, their performance gave them the confidence that blossomed during their outstanding second half of the season.

“It was a very good game, I thoroughly enjoyed it,” recalled Cork.

“It’s very easy to knock county cricket but when you’re out there you know what a good standard it is.

“It’s closer than it’s ever been to Test cricket and is slowly getting closer.

“There used to be a big gulf but with the two-tier system, English cricket is now played very hard.

“I’m sure we’ll see another good county championship this year with £500,000 available for the winners.”

Hampshire continue their pre-season preparations by departing for a 12-day training camp in Cape Town, South Africa tomorrow.