Cork named Hampshire captain

Dominic Cork has been named Hampshire captain for the start of the 2011 county season with Dimitri Mascarenhas still recovering from a serious achilles injury.

Cork, who turns 40 in August, took charge of the team midway through last season and led Hampshire to the Friends Provident t20 title with a tie in the final against Somerset.

"It's a great honour to be asked to captain Hampshire in what should be one of the most exciting years in the club's history," Cork said. "As well as aiming to defend the Friends Provident t20 trophy and challenging to win both the County Championship and the Clydesdale Bank 40 competitions, Test cricket will be coming to The Rose Bowl for the first time ever and the ground is undergoing some exciting changes. "

The club expect Mascarenhas to be able to return at some point during the summer but feel they have an ideal replacement in the experienced Cork. "Dimi has enjoyed a successful period as captain and continues to be a great ambassador for Hampshire," Giles White, the manager, said. "However, the focus is now on getting him back to full fitness as soon as possible so that he can have an influence on the season ahead.

"Dom's appointment gives us continuity and he is a natural successor given the team's achievements under his leadership in 2010."

Cork has been playing first-class cricket since 1990 and had a long stint with Derbyshire, where he was also captain, before joining Lancashire until the move to Hampshire in 2009.