Shane Warne is returning to relegated Hampshire on a two-year contract. He played for them with success in 2000 and now returns to take up the captaincy in succession to Robin Smith who is standing down from the position he has held for five years.

Smith has a testimonial year coming up, and wants to concentrate on his batting as the county strive to regain their Division One status. Ironically enough, it was during another relegation year that Warne played for Hampshire, when he took 70 wickets at 23.14 each. He also averaged 21.55 with the bat and recorded three fifties. He also took 38 wickets in one-day cricket that season.

Hampshire chairman, Rod Bransgrove, when asked how difficult it was to get the Australian leg-spinner to return to the county, replied: "It was more difficult trying to keep him away! Shane is a hugely dedicated and loyal man to all the clubs he has ever played for, from St. Kilda, his first ever club, through to us here at Hampshire and it is tremendous news for the county and demonstrates the depth of our ambition."

Warne, currently in Sri Lanka playing for Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy, said: "I am very happy to be returning to Hampshire, which is my second home. I enjoyed it so much last time and I will do everything to help re-establish Hampshire to the forefront of English cricket."

Bransgrove added: "We have been discussing the captain situation for a few weeks now and looking at all the options. But we really felt Shane Warne's qualities put him to be the obvious candidate and we are delighted to have him. We will work around his international commitments, but he does not have that many during the next two summers."

Those international commitments will result in him missing the first three weeks of next season as he will be with Australia on their tour of the West Indies. The appointment of the vice-captain has yet to be finalised, but Will Kendall is the incumbent and has stood in several times for Smith during this season.

© CricInfo