Hampshire: Captain Jimmy Adams says promotion is the focus

Hampshire captain Jimmy Adams says the team must replicate their one-day form in the Championship as they target promotion to Division One.

They begin the new domestic season on Sunday against Worcestershire.

Hampshire won both one-day competitions in 2012 and were semi-finalists last year but struggled in red-ball cricket.

"There is always lots of talk about four-day cricket and us trying to achieve promotion and of course that is the focus," Adams told BBC South.

"You go into the season wanting success in all three formats, so at the moment it's a fair split between the three, but for the members four-day cricket is right up there.

"Success breeds success, and in four-day cricket we have been a bit up and down."

Hampshire have added several new faces to their squad including South Africa pace bowler Kyle Abbott, Matt Coles, Will Smith and Joe Gatting, the nephew of former England skipper Mike.

Another change is James Vince's promotion to Hampshire captain in the T20 Blast, replacing the retired Dimitri Mascarenhas.

The 23-year-old batsman, who spent the winter with the England Performance Programme in Australia and toured Sri Lanka with the Lions, was named as Adams's County Championship and One-Day Cup vice-captain last month.

New first-team coach Dale Benkenstein believes the additions to the squad can help Hampshire become successful in the Championship.

"It's the same for every side in Division Two and promotion is the big word," Benkenstein said.

"The real challenge here is four-day cricket and trying to win matches here at home. The batting is very strong, but trying to bowl sides out here has been a challenge and we are trying to address that."

He added: "Matt Coles is an explosive character, he brings that out on the field and brings some energy into the side.

"Will Smith brings some solidity for the batting and Joe Gatting is an exciting player who has not got the runs he should to date."

Adams believes it would be fitting for the county to earn promotion as improvements continue at the Ageas Bow to elevate the profile of the club.

"We are all very lucky to play at a fantastic ground and with the hotel moving forward we are looking forward to it being finished," he said.

"This is an international ground and we want to playing at the highest level of cricket here."