Hampshire County Cricket Club rain. In 2007 Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove announced plans for the redevelopment of the Rose Bowl to bring Test cricket to the ground. Prior to the 2008 County Championship season Australian legend and club captain Shane Warne reiterated his commitment to the club. But shortly before the start of the season Warne announced his retirement from first-class cricket. Former captain Shaun Udal also announced his retirement, having played for Hampshire since 1989, though he later joined Middlesex. Dimitri Mascarenhas was named Warne's replacement as captain for the 2008 season. In 2008, Hampshire struggled and were near the foot of the
Australian cricket team in South Africa in 1993–94 looming. The match included instances of verbal abuse of South African batsmen by Australian bowlers. Fast bowler Merv Hughes was reported to the match referee Donald Carr for continued abuse of a number of batsmen and was fined 10% of his match fee by the referee. Hughes responded to taunts by South African spectators by "lunging at the offenders with his bat" in the uncovered player's tunnel and later received a suspended fine of A$4,000 from the Australian Cricket Board (ACB). Spin bowler Shane Warne confronted Andrew Hudson after taking his wicket in South Africa's second innings and had to