HAMPSHIRE are considering playing their first County Championship match on the Isle of Wight since 1962.

The MCC will stage a match at the new £2m ground at Newclose, near Newport, next year and Hampshire are also interested in using it as an outground.

Newclose has room for 2,600 cars, a £900,000 pavilion with spectacular views and a state-of- the-art electronic scoreboard.

It is a field of dreams conceived by Brian Gardener, and funded with the help of a grant from the National Sports Foundation.

“I was very impressed with Newclose,” said Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove.

“I think it could become a very good festival location.

“I understand that the wicket is still a bit ‘up and down’ but that should resolve itself given time and proper attention."

Hampshire have played a four-day match at Basingstoke for each of the last three seasons but it is 48 years since they played on the Isle of Wight.

After two Championship matches at Newport from 1938-39, they were annual visitors to Cowes from 1956- 62.