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Hampshire sign Shane Watson for 2008 Twenty20 Cup

10/03/2008

Hampshire have signed Australian all-rounder Shane Watson for their 2008 Twenty20 Cup campaign this summer.

The 26-year-old returns for his second spell at the club having played for the county in 2004 and 2005.

Watson helped Hants win the 2005 Friends Provident Trophy and will return as the club's overseas player for this year's campaign.

Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove was delighted to have the Australian back playing for the Hawks and hopes the Queenslander will reinvigorate the clubs Twenty20 ambitions.

"Watto was an instant hit with members and fans of Hampshire when he was here in 2004 and I, for one, am very excited at the prospect of seeing him here again this summer," he said.

"It is fair to say that we have under-performed in the Twenty20 Cup so far, and we have been saying for a while that 2008 will see us focusing more and more on this exciting competition.

"Our signing of such a fantastic talent as Shane Watson shows our clear intent to compete hard to be in the finals day that we are so proudly hosting in July," he added.

Watson has played three Tests, 65 one-day internationals and two international Twenty20 matches for Australia.