Ex-England batter Mark Stoneman says he is “absolutely not” a direct replacement for James Vince but hopes his experience can help Hampshire push for a first County Championship title in more than 50 years.
Stoneman, who left Middlesex at the end of the 2024 season, signed a one-year contract at the Utilita Bowl in February, a month after last season’s top run scorer Vince announced his shift of focus to white-ball games.
The 37-year-old said Vince’s departure was one of the “moving parts” that led him to Hampshire for the 2025 season, but insisted his fellow former England international was “irreplaceable”.
“I’m just here to be the best Mark Stoneman, and hopefully that’s the contribution that helps take Hampshire forward,” he told BBC Radio Solent’s Hampshire commentator Kevan James.
The left-handed batter, who hit five half-centuries in 11 Tests for England between August 2017 and May 2018 and has averaged 34.23 across his 250 first-class matches, said he feels “as motivated, driven and determined as ever to perform”.
He expects to open the batting when Hampshire begin their County Championship campaign at home to newly-promoted Yorkshire on 4 April.
“That’s my strongest suit, that’s where I’ve plied my trade for nearly 20 years now,” added the former Durham and Surrey man.
“I’m hoping to get out there, get the team off to a good start and get the runs on the board that we need to push for wins.”
Stoneman said his new club were a “really competitive side” with a “very proud history” he hopes to add to, with a squad he feels “can go all the way”.
Hampshire finished runners-up in Division One last summer, with Vince, 34, as their leading scorer for the fourth consecutive season. They last won a County Championship in 1973.
Source link : https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/c1jp3z51n4go
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Publish date : 2025-03-25 10:36:20
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