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Glen Delve came to Hampshire as their new Chief Executive; he would later become managing Director, leaving in 2012, at which point Rod Bransgrove took on the role. In the winter of 2006 Shaun Udal was a member of England’s touring side and took 4-14 v India in Bombay to help them clinch victory. Udal was the first Hampshire-born, Hampshire cricketer to represent England since AJL Hill in South Africa in 1896. Shane Warne returned as captain and Hampshire finished third in the Championship, although never quite in contention as they had been in 2005.
In the Championship, John Crawley was the outstanding batsman again with 1,737 runs at 66.80, while Jimmy Adams realised his promise and (age 25) scored 1,173 runs at 45.11 – including 262* at Trent Bridge. Pothas averaged 64.86 and he and newcomer Michael Carberry (Surrey and Kent) passed 900. The bowling was less strong; Warne with 58 wickets at 27.08 led the wicket-takers and Tremlett with 34 wickets at 24.55 topped the averages but missed seven matches with injury. The overseas player Australian Dominic Thornely had an unremarkable season although he was most effective in limited-overs cricket.
Hampshire beat Yorkshire in the Championship twice in season for the first time and were the first side ever to score over 400 in a fourth innings against Yorkshire to win a match – Adams leading the way with 168*. Billy Taylor took a ‘hat-trick’ v Middlesex – the first by anyone at the Rose Bowl. Crawley scored two hundreds in the same match v Nottinghamshire at the Rose Bowl, the only instance on that ground. Pothas took seven dismissals (all caught) v Lancashire at Old Trafford – a Hampshire record. To induce a declaration, Warne used all eleven bowlers in the match v Middlesex at Lord’s – the first instance by Hampshire since 1897 but the match ended in a draw.
Hampshire enjoyed most success in the revamped National League now known as the Pro40. They won five of their eight matches, finishing third which took them into a televised promotion play-off against Glamorgan at the Rose Bowl, which Hampshire won by 151 runs. They posted 265-9 in their 40 overs led by Chris Benham with 158. Glamorgan collapsed and only a last wicket partnership of 25 took them to three figures. In the C&G Hampshire finished fourth in their group with only the top teams qualifying directly for the final although again they made Glamorgan suffer, posting 310-7 in their 50 overs, the highest limited-overs total on the ground.
In March, the President, Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie died and on 29 June, many Hampshire players and officials attended his Memorial Service at St Paul’s Cathedral. Out of respect, the position of President was not filled. On the evening of the service, Carberry (90), Mitchell Stokes (62) and Thorneley (50) took Hampshire to their T20 record of 225-2 and they beat Middlesex by 59 runs (Thorneley 3-30). Stokes from Basingstoke played a number of T20 matches while on a summer contract but departed at the end of the following season without playing first-class cricket.
‘Dimi’ Mascarenhas was the beneficiary. David Griffiths was the first Isle of Wight cricketer since the war to play in first-class cricket and Kevin Latouf who had played in the C&G Final also made his first-class debut. Liam Dawson took 6-9 for England Under-19 v Malaysia Under-19, the best figures ever for that England age group. James Tomlinson showed promise with 44 wickets for the 2nd XI.
Permanent floodlights were installed, and two international men’s matches were held at the Rose Bowl; a second T20 in which England beat Sri Lanka and a longer match, England v Pakistan. In the women’s NatWest One-Day series, England beat India twice on August 24th and 25th. A 17-year-old Sarah Taylor picked up the player-of-the-match award after top-scoring with 61 in the first game, which England won by 3 wickets. In November, Hampshire announced £35m plans to develop the ground with new stands, a hotel and enlarged golf course. The ECB awarded the Rose Bowl Provisional ‘Category A’ status with respect to major matches. Hampshire announced that from 2007, Barry Richards would succeed Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie as President.
BAT Sports won the Southern Electric Premier League, with Bashley (Rydal) runners-up.
Quiz Answer: Shane Warne recorded his best one-day cricket figures with 6 for 42 against Surrey at Whitgift School in the C&G Group game. He was also awarded an honorary doctorate by Solent University in 2006.
Throughout 2026, 25 Years of The Bowl will be marked through a series of celebrations reflecting the venue’s history, people and progress.
One of the headline moments of the anniversary year comes on Friday 29 May, as Hampshire Hawks v Surrey brings the Party Like It’s 2001 theme to life with a retro-themed Vitality Blast double header at Utilita Bowl.
Together, these moments will celebrate 25 years of The Bowl - past, present and future.
