Cricket: Warne Extends Contract at Hampshire

Shane Warne has signed a two-year contract with Hampshire with an option to extend it for a further two years.

Australia's leading leg-spinner, with a record 567 wickets in Tests - the latest of them in New Zealand yesterday - took over the captaincy of Hampshire in 2004 having also spent a year with the county in 2000. The 35-year-old will continue as club captain, although he is expected to miss much of this season when he joins the Ashes tour on July 11. He has retired from one-day internationals and will return for the county's final few games.

"It is a lengthy contract," a Hampshire spokesman said. "He has bought a house in the Southampton area and is really committing himself to the county."

Simon Katich will also return from Australia for a third season and will be joined by England's one-day batsman Kevin Pietersen, who has signed for three years after spending four with Nottinghamshire.

In Christchurch, meanwhile, an undefeated 103 from Hamish Marshall and a battling 74 from the debutant Craig Cumming got New Zealand off to a good start in the first Test against Australia.

The home side finished on 265 for three, with Nathan Astle the other unbeaten batsman on 29. "It was a good day's cricket for us," said the captain Stephen Fleming, who made only 18 before he was leg-before to Warne.

"Batting first and getting through the first session in particular was important, then generating the run-rate later in the day. It turned out to be a good day on a good wicket and a good day for the youngsters."

Simon Jones, the England quick bowler, has signed a three-year contract with Glamorgan, committing himself until the end of the 2007 season. "He is perhaps the classic illustration of everything we're trying to do at the club in terms of developing home-grown players and doing everything we can to help them reach their full potential," said Glamorgan's chief executive Mike Fatkin. "It's great news."