Bad day at the office for Australians as Hampshire eye long-term benefits

A one-sided day, muddled selection, poor shots, indifferent bowling, ragged fielding. Even a wicket off a no-ball. A familiar story this summer... but with a vital difference. This time the guilty team was Australia. Their tormentors - Hampshire.

The stage was the Second Division county's rather splendid new ground, The Rosebowl at West End, hosting its first major game. In time, this ground will host international cricket proper. For the time-being, the Hampshire public, decamped last year from the cosy Northlands Road ground, are more than content with the prospect of a mid-season match against the Australians. Only 500 tickets were available to the public on the gate this morning, and hospitality take up was more than impressive.

Such games are important to the non-Test counties. It always puzzles that while Vodafone Challenge games provide the counties with the toughest competition - not to say the most marketable game - of the season, some counties' approach to these games is half-hearted to say the least. Banish all talk of regional cricket, a game against an attractive touring team can be the on-field highlight of the season, and a key source of revenue. Such was the case at Taunton before the last Test Match; Somerset's Chief Executive, Peter Anderson, claimed revenue in excess of £100,000 for their game. The same is true at Hampshire, whose marketing chief Mike Taylor expects similar returns for the county's onand off-field efforts over these three days.

Hampshire fielded a strong team, a number of players having points to prove, or wanting to set down a marker for the future. Alan Mullally did his claims for an England Test recall no harm at all with a five-wicket haul, combining accuracy with genuine penetration. Dimitri Mascarenhas, perhaps with an eye on a utility role in the 25 one-day elite, will have been pleased that his bowling stood up well against international batsmen.

And later in the day, Derek Kenway, highly rated by former team-mate Shane Warne, played with a class that belies his relative inexperience against an attack including Gillespie, Warne and Lee. What odds on him stepping into Alec Stewart's role in the long term? Even Robin Smith took the opportunity to reassert his quality, relishing the contest against Gillespie in particular, who complimented the Hampshire captain by delivering an over composed entirely of bouncers late in the day.

Without doubt, Australia had a bad day at the office. Even they are allowed those. Like any great side, they keep their off days for less important games. But even their lopsided team (Warne batted at six, Lee at seven) would be disappointed with what was an extremely mediocre performance. Hayden flashed wildly at a wide one, providing tyro Schofield with a notable scalp from his first ball in first-class cricket. Steve Waugh gave slip-catching practice to one he had no need to play. The fielding was sloppy - misfields galore, wild returns, dropped slip catches, byes past the `keeper and runs through the slips. Lee bowled Smith with a no-ball. And on a day like today, even the umpires' decisions don't go your way. Miller looked unlucky to miss out on a caught-behind, with one that bounced a little more and surprised Kenway as he fenced down the leg-side.

Of course, England supporters must banish any thoughts that the wheel may be coming off this well travelled Australia side. Is the luck with which Andy Caddick credits them starting to wear off? No chance. This will be seen as a minor blip in their conquest for world domination. For Hampshire, one of the less-heralded counties, and certainly one that seldom seems to divert the selectors' Surrey-wards gaze, this was an important day, and one which they, the club and the players, will take a lot from for the future, whatever the result of this match.