Cricket: Shackles off as Adams aims to make big impact

Hampshire's Jimmy Adams. Photo / Paul Estcourt

It's always nice to know when you've hired someone on a short-term contract that they're bringing rich form with them.

A glance at Jimmy Adams' season with Hampshire should have Auckland cricket fans purring ahead of the start of the HRV Cup, against defending champions Central Districts at Colin Maiden Park on Friday.

The Hampshire lefthander, a former England under-15 and under-19 level, was the top run-getter in England's equivalent T20 domestic competition this year. His 668 runs were the first time a batsman had gone past 600 in the tournament - he averaged a robust 39.29 with a 132.27 strike rate.

His first-class and one-day numbers were strong, too, but it's the shortest game he's here for.

Adams hit two centuries in helping Hampshire win the Friends Provident competition, against Surrey and Glamorgan, and particularly enjoys the memory of his ton against Surrey.

"I hadn't started the competition very well," he said yesterday. "I got a bit lucky. I was on 99 and the last ball was a waist-high full bunger. I hit it down long on's throat. Then the umpire called no ball.

"The last year was something I didn't expect, but once you get a bit of confidence it's amazing what you can do. It can be quite a fickle game like that."

Adams, 30, has been in Australia as part of the England Performance Programme, a group of players ranging from the up-and-coming to those regarded as closer to stepping up to the big stage.

"It's always nice to come off a season when things have gone well. You've got stuff you can look back on and get a bit of confidence."

Adams, who has a degree in human biology from Loughborough University, has recently signed a three-year deal with Hampshire, and on his first trip to New Zealand is keen to make an impact.

He's talked with Hampshire captain Dmitri Mascarenhas, who played for Otago two seasons ago, about what to expect and will bone up on the opposition players and pitches in the coming days.

Of T20, Adams likes the feeling of having the shackles removed.

"That's the biggest thing, the feeling that all you are looking to do is score.

I'd been a four-day opener, batting time, that was my scene. The short form is suddenly like a complete turnaround, and it's great."

*Otago have named a squad of 13 for the first four rounds of the competition, including their English imports, Chris Nash of Sussex and Darren Stevens from Kent, both of whom put up good T20 numbers in the last season.

*Big-hitting Australian David Hussey is a late call-in for Northern Districts' second round game against Auckland on Sunday, after Daniel Flynn was ruled out for the first two games by injury. Nick Horsley replaces Flynn for tomorrow's competition opener against CD in Hamilton.