Warne misses Rose Bowl washout

Twenty20 Cup, Rose Bowl: Hampshire v Sussex
Match abandoned - rain

Match scorecard

Shane Warne may not return for Hampshire this season now

Shane Warne was a surprise omission from the Hampshire line-up in the Twenty20 washout against Sussex after being granted a two-week break.

Cricket Australia asked Hampshire for the special dispensation, granted by chairman Rod Bransgrove, to give his club captain a rest ahead of the Ashes.

Bransgrove said: "Cricket Australia have asked before for him to take a break but he chose not to.

"He has bowled more than we expected. I'm happy for him to take a break."

A sell-out crowd of 10,000 at the Rose Bowl went home without seeing a single ball after heavy downpours put paid to any chance of play.

There was time for the toss, however, which was won by Sussex who elected to bowl first.

Hampshire named a side without skipper Shane Warne in it and were all ready to hand a debut to England Under-19 batsman Mitchell Stokes.

But the rain returned just as the players took to the field.