Hampshire chief executive David Mann stressed he and majority shareholder Rod Bransgrove will “protect the legacy we’ve built” amid speculation the club could be sold to an Indian Premier League group.
Bransgrove is widely credited for rescuing Hampshire from the brink of bankruptcy when he first joined in 2000 and oversaw a period of great success for the club as chair before standing down last year.
It was reported last week he was in talks to sell his stake to GMR Group, part owners of IPL franchise Delhi Capitals, and Hampshire have confirmed they are in “detailed negotiations” with new investors.
Mann would not be drawn on any specifics but, while he believes cricket must have more investment, any deal – especially with an Indian conglomerate – would not reshape the values of the club.
Speaking at the announcement of the club’s home ground being rebranded the Utilita Bowl, Mann told the PA news agency: “I don’t think anyone would argue private investment in Hampshire has been a bad thing.
“There wouldn’t be a Hampshire if there hadn’t been a private investor here so I think whatever we do with investment down the track, it’s about the quality of the person that you engage with.
“The game needs more investment and is crying out for it to underpin the viability going forward. But we’re the custodians for the time being and we’ve got the interests of that at heart more than anything else.
“Rod has been for 20-odd years, I’ve been here for 15 years; we’re very, very keen to protect the legacy we’ve built so we wouldn’t do anything that would jeopardise that.”
Bransgrove led the club’s move to a ground on the outskirts of Southampton, which is now a major international venue, regularly hosts England matches and will stage in 2027 its first Ashes contest.
Following the end of a longstanding union with Ageas, Hampshire have found a new naming rights partner, agreeing an eight-year partnership with energy supplier Utilita believed to be worth seven figures.
As well as pushing charitable ventures to make a bigger impact on the local community, Mann admitted the “real clincher” was the sustainability angle in which Hampshire will attempt to become the world’s greenest cricket ground.
The first step towards this ambition is the installation of 1,000 solar panels that could produce up to a quarter of the electricity used in the ground annually and save the club a six-figure sum each year.
Mann said: “This aspiration to be the greenest venue is something we’re able to back up with real tangible assets that are going to deliver measurable returns. It’s an exciting time.
“I’m not going to say we’ll be net zero by 2040, I want us to say something that we can back up with hard data and reducing your actual energy use by a quarter is hard data.
“Over time, if we can make other improvements to make another big hole in that, that’s how we’ll be able to say that we’re unique and doing stuff that nobody else is doing.
“We’ve got a massive footprint here as well – there’s 200 acres on the Utilita Bowl site so we can do things with tree planting, how we collect and use water and a whole range of other things.”
Sherfane Rutherford’s maiden ODI century leads West Indies to record chase against Bangladesh
Sherfane Rutherford’s maiden ODI century powered the West Indies to a thrilling five-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the first of three One-Day Internationals at Warner Park in St Kitts on Sunday. The win, sealed with 14 balls to spare, ended Bangladesh’s 11-game winning streak against the West Indies and marked the highest successful chase and second-innings total at the venue.
Chasing 295, the West Indies found themselves in early trouble at 94-3 in the 22nd over. Openers Brandon King (6) and Evin Lewis (16) struggled to get going against disciplined bowling from Bangladesh, while Kaecy Carty’s 21 came to an end just as he looked to settle. At this stage, Bangladesh’s total of 294-6, built on fifties from Mehidy Hasan Miraz (74), Tanzid Hasan (60), and Mahmudullah (50 not out), as well as Jaker Ali’s valuable 48, seemed more than enough.
However, the game took a dramatic turn with a 99-run partnership between Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford. Hope steadied the innings with his trademark composure, scoring 86 off 88 balls with three fours and four sixes. Rutherford, who came into the match with four consecutive fifties, once again delivered under pressure. This time, he turned his brilliant form into a dazzling 113 from just 80 balls, laced with seven fours and eight towering sixes.
Hope scored a solid 86 from 88 balls.
Bangladesh had no answer for Rutherford’s power-hitting, which completely shifted the momentum. His partnership with Hope set the foundation for the chase, and even after his dismissal with just seven runs needed from the final 20 balls, Justin Greaves ensured there were no last-minute nerves. Greaves finished unbeaten on 41 from 31 balls, striking five boundaries, while Roston Chase’s composed two not out saw the West Indies home.
Earlier in the day, Romario Shepherd (3-51) and Alzarri Joseph (2-67) were instrumental in restricting Bangladesh to under 300, as the visitors looked on course for a bigger total during the middle overs.
The victory is a major boost for the West Indies, showcasing their resilience and growing confidence in ODIs. For Bangladesh, it was a case of missed opportunities as their bowlers failed to close out a strong start.
With two more matches to come, the series remains wide open, promising more fireworks as both teams aim to outdo each other.
Brook labelled as 'best in the world' by England centurion Root
Joe Root lauded Harry Brook as the world's best batter after England completed their series victory away to New Zealand on Sunday.
Ben Stokes' tourists coasted to a 323-run victory in the second Test against New Zealand, sealing an unassailable 2-0 series lead.
It looked like England could be in trouble in Wellington after slipping to 43-4 in the first innings, only for Brook's 123 and 66 from Ollie Pope dragging their side to 280 all out.
Brook now has seven centuries in just 10 Tests away from home, the most by any batter in his first 10 such outings outside of their home country.
Yorkshire and England team-mate Root believes there is no player better than Brook at present.
"Just been a great week, from the position we were in, to then manage to win the game by day three, just shows how well the boys played," Root said.
"That partnership from Popey and Brooky, who is in my eyes the best player in the world at the minute.
"He's got it all, he can absorb pressure and put it back on you. He is destructive against both pace and spin, to manage those conditions exceptionally well and play some great counter-attacking cricket."
Root compiled a 130-ball 106 in the second innings as Stokes' side hammered home their advantage, with Jacob Bethell adding 96, four more than opener Ben Duckett managed.
England great Root now has 36 centuries in Tests, the joint-fifth most by any batter, alongside India's Rahul Dravid.
He brought up three figures with a trademark ramp over New Zealand wicket-keeper Tom Blundell from the bowling of seamer Will O’Rourke.
Root admitted the shot was somewhat pre-meditated, having seen the hosts alter the field.
"It wasn't [at first pre-meditated], and then they brought third man up," Root added.
"I was like it's the new ball, they are more likely to go length than short. It's worth a gamble, it's worth the risk!"
India players 'not scarred' by Australia thrashing, insists Rohit
India captain Rohit Sharma insisted his side's thrashing against Australia in their second Test will not leave his players with mental scars.
Australia romped to a 10-wicket triumph in Adelaide on Sunday to level the five-match series, with Travis Head, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins starring for the tourists.
Head's knock of 140 from 141 deliveries in the first innings put the Baggy Greens in control, before Starc and Cummins took 15 wickets between them to seal an impressive victory.
Cummins claimed his ninth Test five-for, with only Richie Benaud (nine) and Imran Khan (12) taking more as a captain for their respective nations.
None of India's players made a half-century in either innings, while their bowling attack failed to capitalise when conditions were in their favour, but Rohit remained positive.
"Firstly, it's not a [mental] scar, it's just we've lost a Test match. We didn't play well enough," he said.
"It's still 1-1 and plenty of things left in this series, and definitely a way for us to get back into it. I am not going to look too much into this game and start worrying about little things.
"A disappointing week for us, we didn't play well, and Australia played better cricket than us and won the Test match. We failed to grab our opportunities. We didn't bat well enough, probably 30-40 runs short with the bat in the first innings.
"There were opportunities when Australia were batting, and we failed to take those chances. When you miss those chances, it’s never easy."
The third Test takes place next Saturday at The Gabba, with India hoping to replicate their last encounter at the iconic venue, when Rishabh Pant’s unbeaten 89 saw them chase down 328 to inflict Australia's first loss there since 1988.
"We are looking forward to it. [We have] some really good memories there. We want to start well and play well. There's not much time in between as well," he said.
"You know we just want to go out there and think about what we did right in Perth, and also what we did last time when we were here."
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