Vince to focus on Hampshire's T20 campaign in 2025

Since his debut in 2009 James Vince has scored nearly 12,500 first-class runs for Hampshire

Hampshire captain James Vince will not play red-ball cricket for the county this season and will instead focus on white-ball games, BBC Radio Solent reports.

The 33-year-old has been the county's leading run-scorer in the Championship for the past four seasons.

In 2025, however, he is set to concentrate on the county's T20 Blast campaign, as well as featuring in The Hundred.

"I love Hampshire, it's been my club and home for 16 years, so I want to be able to maintain my best to keep delivering for Hampshire in T20 cricket, and hopefully even further our success in the competition," he said.

"I also need to understand what is best for my family, and combine that with the stage of my career I am at."

The new deal will allow him to explore other franchise cricket options abroad.

Vince opted to miss Hampshire's participation in the Global Super League in Guyana over the winter as he was contracted to play for Delhi Bulls in the Abu Dhabi T10 competition.

He was also retained by Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League, with that tournament expected to run from 8 April to 19 May. Hampshire will play six Championship games in that time.

"James has been at the heart of the club for the best part of 20-years, showing absolute commitment on and off the field as the team's leading batter and captain," said director of cricket Giles White.

"We recognise that this announcement will be tinged with disappointment for many fans but hope everyone will join us in celebrating what he has given to our club over many years and supporting him as he fulfils his commitment to continue leading the Hawks in the 2025 Vitality Blast."

Since his debut in 2009, Vince has scored nearly 12,500 first-class runs for Hampshire at an average of over 41.

He played 13 Tests, 25 one-dayers and 17 Twenty20 internationals, but last appeared for England in March 2023.

Vince will be 'sorely missed and not easy to replace' - analysis

Kevan James, BBC Radio Solent's Hampshire commentator:

If this is to be the end of James Vince's red-ball career, he will leave having fallen just short of leading Hampshire to a County Championship title.

They finished second last season and third in each of the two previous seasons, while, in 2021, although they finished fourth in the end, they were just two balls and one wicket away from claiming a first title since 1973.

His volume of runs will be sorely missed and won't be easy to replace.