THIS time last year, Chris Tremlett began rebuilding his career away from The Rose Bowl.

Now Hampshire manager Giles White is backing Chris Benham to do the same.

As Tremlett focuses on his first Ashes tour after an outstanding debut season with Surrey,Benham is looking for a new county following the end of his 17-year association with Hampshire.

Benham, who first represented Hampshire as an Under-10 in 1993, played under White for the academy and the second eleven but struggled to gain a first-team spot in any form of the game in 2010.

That did not make releasing the 27-year-old any easier.

“It was a very hard decision because Chris has been a big part of things in the last few years and is a player I’ve spent a time with during his development,”

explained White.

“But we’ve got a very strong batting line up and his opportunities were limited.

I feel he needs to find another home, a place where he can play firstclass cricket.

“Chris is a good player and his record in one-day cricket is very good.

“He’s got a lot of talent, he’s determined to succeed and has a good cricket brain.

"He’s got a lot going for him but playing second eleven cricket with us is not what he needs. He's too good for that."