Hampshire have moved early on their 2026 plans, confirming Australia all-rounder Michael Neser for the opening six rounds of the County Championship and securing Jake Lehmann on a two-season deal as a locally qualified player.
Neser, 35, hits the south coast in lively form after claiming a maiden Test five-for against England at the Gabba last week. The seamer-batter knows the Utilita Bowl from a brief white-ball stint in 2024 and a productive year at Glamorgan, where 80 first-class wickets came at a tidy 23 runs apiece and a surprise 176 not out added a line to the batting CV.
Lehmann, 33 and holder of a UK passport, slots in as a domestic pick. The left-hander was third on the Sheffield Shield run charts during South Australia’s 2024-25 title win – 750 runs at 44.11 – and is again topping their list this summer. Yorkshire and Lancashire fans may remember short spells in 2016 and 2019, though the sample size was small.
“I’m excited to join Hampshire on a two-year deal, it’s great to return to county cricket,” Lehmann said. “Hampshire has a fantastic history of Australian players and to follow in the footsteps of Shane Warne, Matthew Hayden and the like is really special. I look forward to joining up with the team at Utilita Bowl and hopefully contributing to the trophy cabinet.”
To register as a local, Lehmann is expected to forgo domestic status back home, yet Shield sides can still field one overseas player, so South Australia could theoretically keep him if needs must.
Last summer Hampshire flirted with relegation, only surviving on the final afternoon when Durham slipped up against Yorkshire. Russell Domingo, appointed after long-serving coach Adi Birrell stepped aside, now has two fresh faces to work with.
Giles White, the county’s director of cricket, offered the official welcome: “In Michael Neser and Jake Lehmann, we have two players who have the ability to make a significant impact. Michael brings valuable runs alongside his quality with the ball – he will partner Kyle Abbott as one of our overseas players.
“Jake is in outstanding form and is the leading run scorer in Shield cricket over the past 18 months. With a British passport, he is eligible to play as a locally qualified player, allowing flex in strengthening the squad.
“Both players possess a great attitude and bring quality and experience; it’s a big boost as we look to finalise our plans ahead of 2026.”
Plenty still to sort – an overseas for the Blast, back-up spin, maybe another seamer – yet Hampshire, bruised but not broken by last year’s escape, have made an assured start to winter business.
