Hampshire County Cricket Club begun on Hampshire's long-awaited new ground. The realisation of this move almost led the club to financial ruin, as encouragement from financial partners Sport England and the hiring of architect Sir Michael Hopkins had led the then part-time voluntary committee running the club to lose control of the budget. In 2000 Australian great Shane Warne was signed as the club's overseas player. The 2000 County Championship was to be the last season that Hampshire would play at the County Ground Southampton before they moved in 2001 to the new Rose Bowl ground just outside Southampton. 2001 also saw current club
Australian cricket team in England and Ireland in 2012 Australian cricket team in England and Ireland in 2012 The Australian cricket team toured England and Ireland in June and July 2012. Australia played a One Day International (ODI) against Ireland on 23 June, and a five-match ODI series against England from 29 June to 10 July. They also played two List A tour matches against English county sides Leicestershire Foxes and Essex Eagles. The tour was put in jeopardy at the start of June 2012, when industrial action was threatened by the Australian Cricketers' Association because of a dispute over the inclusion of performance-related pay in the contract between