Robin Smith is set to play Southern League cricket for the first time in 22 years next season - for Hursley Park.

Smith, right, broke the Southern League's batting record by scoring 1,015 runs when he played for Trojans while qualifying to play for Hampshire as a non overseas player in 1982.

That aggregate was surpassed by BAT Sports' Neal Parlane this year - the New Zealander struck 1,074 runs.

But Smith, 40, is unlikely to play enough games for the club captained by former Hampshire teammate Adi Aymes to stand a chance of getting his record back.

Smith, who is due to discuss his Hampshire Cricket ambassadorial role with managing director Nick Pike next week, said: "Although I've retired from first class cricket I would still like to play a bit of competitive cricket.

"But my commitments to Hampshire and my family won't allow me to play in all the games. I haven't been able to support my son Harrison as much as I'd like to and if he, or my daughter Margaux, is playing sport I will go and watch them.

"Adi is a very good friend, and I will try and play when I can. I'm sure I will enjoy it but my priority is Hampshire and I'm very excited about my new role with the club."

Smith retired from first class cricket last month after more than two decades with Hampshire and 63 caps for England.

Aymes said: "It was a travesty that we didn't see more of Robin playing for England than we did.

"England picked him at least a couple of years too late and then discarded him too soon.

"Alec Stewart has recently received a lot of adulation, and quite right too - but if Robin had been treated better by England he could have had that adulation."