Hampshire appoint Dominic Cork as captain

Cork captained Derbyshire from 1998 to 2003

Hampshire have appointed veteran all-rounder Dominic Cork as captain for the forthcoming season.

Cork, 39, took over the Hampshire captaincy for the second half of last season following skipper Dimitri Mascarenhas's Achilles tendon injury.

He said: "It's a great honour to be asked to captain Hampshire in what should be one of the most exciting years in the club's history."

The former England international will captain the county in all competitions.

Cork joined the Rose Bowl side in October 2008 after being released by Lancashire.

The Staffordshire-born man finished as the club's top wicket taker in all competitions last season and signed a new one-year deal in October.

Hampshire manager Giles White stated: "Dom's appointment gives us continuity and he is a natural successor given the team's achievements under his leadership in 2010."

Under Cork's captaincy the club won the FP t20 trophy and avoided relegation from Division One of the County Championship.

As well as recovering from injury, Mascarenhas must also serve a 14-day ban from the start of the new season after criticising England selector Geoff Miller in an expletive-ridden outburst on Twitter.