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
Test and County Cricket Board XI cricket team Test and County Cricket Board XI cricket team The Test and County Cricket Board XI was a cricket team formed by the Test and County Cricket Board which was made up of players English county players who were considered to be on the fringes of selection for the England cricket team. The team played four first-class matches, with the first being a three-wicket defeat at Trent Bridge in 1981 against the touring Sri Lankans. The teams second match came in 1986 against the touring New Zealanders, with the match ending in a draw. The team next appeared in first-class cricket