Hampshire's newly formed Academy side will take its Southern Electric ECB Premier League bow against Sparsholt at the Rose Bowl on Saturday May 4.

The county is fielding a team made up of fledgling contracted players and academy students in Division 2 of the Premier League next summer.

County Second XI coach Tony Middleton is expected to captain the Academy XI, which faces three potentially stiff matches in the opening month of the season. After hosting Sparsholt, the Hampshire side travels to play Winchester KS at River Park, entertains newly promoted Rowledge, and then visits Lymington.

All of the matches are 50-over affairs, starting at 1 o'clock.

Admission to all home matches on the Nursery ground will be free.

Hampshire CCC Academy XI fixtures for 2002

May 4       Sparsholt                   West End, Southampton
May 11      Winchester KS               River Park, Winchester
May 18      Rowledge                    West End, Southampton
May 25      Lymington                   Lymington Sports Ground
June 1      Easton & Martyr Worthy      West End, Southampton
June 8      Hungerford                  War Memorial Ground, Hungerford
June 15     Old Tauntonians & Romsey    West End, Southampton
June 22     United Services             US Sports Ground, Portsmouth
June 29     Trojans                     West End, Southampton
July 6      Sparsholt                   Locks Lane, Sparsholt
July 13     Winchester KS               West End, Southampton
July 20     Rowledge                    Rowledge Sports Ground
July 27     Lymington                   West End, Southampton
August 3    Easton & Martyr Worthy      Cockets Mead, Rowledge
August 10   Hungerford                  West End, Southampton
August 17   Old Tauntonians & Romsey    Romsey Sports Centre
August 24   United Services             West End, Southampton
August 31   Trojans                     Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh

© Hants CCC