HAMPSHIRE Cricket have formed a new partnership with South Australia.

Director of cricket Giles White and seamer Ruel Brathwaite are heading to Adelaide this month to develop a coach-and-player exchange programme with the state side.

Brathwaite will be the first player to benefit from the partnership. He will also be playing for Prospect Cricket Club, while White will spend time working with the Adelaide Strikers.

New Hampshire signing Joe Gatting is also currently in Adelaide, playing for Northern Districts CC.

South Australia are coached by Darren Berry, a former Victoria teammate of Shane Warne.

Former Australia batsman Phillip Hughes, who had a brief stint with Hampshire in 2010, and 2013 Ageas Bowl International Academy (ABICA) player Travis Head are both members of the Adelaide Strikers squad.

White said: “[ABICA Head Coach] Tim Nielsen and I spoke during the summer; we felt there was an opportunity for both clubs to enhance what they offer.

“For me, I am looking forward to seeing how other teams and organisations operate. Hopefully there will be a sharing of information and I can bring back some new ideas that can help us moving forward.”

The most notable link between Hampshire and South Australia is Barry Richards.

The Hampshire legend batted South Australia to the 1970/71 Sheffield Shield title in his only season for the club, one that featured his highest first-class score of 356 – 325 of which he made in a single day – against a Western Australia attack including Dennis Lillee and England spinner Tony Lock.

Only two players have ever scored more in an innings for South Australia, one of whom is the great Don Bradman, who did so twice. And Richards still holds South Australia’s record for most runs in a season (1,538).

Other former South Australia players include Ryan Harris, Darren Lehmann, and Garry Sobers.

The partnership is similar to that described by Hampshire when they joined forces with the Rajasthan Royals five years ago.

Hampshire even changed their name to the Royals to reflect the relationship before ditching it last month with the creation of a new club crest.