JIMMY ADAMS intends to remind Michael Kasprowicz he has graduated from cricket's school of hard knocks against Glamorgan this week.

It is now more than a year since left-handed opener Adams was struck on the head twice in successive championship matches at the Rose Bowl - beginning with a Kasprowicz bouncer last July.

Two weeks later, Adams, right, hit his own wicket as he was floored by a short delivery from Northants Andre Nel.

He had to face his demons at Cardiff a fortnight ago, when he played against Kasprowicz for the first time since he was 'sconned' by the Australian Test bowler.

Adams succeeded. He was caught after hooking a Kasprowicz bouncer in the first innings but made 75 and 65 not out as second-placed Hampshire won by nine wickets

Adams said: "Last year I was looking to hook more which is how I got hit by Nel. It was more serious the second time - it fractured my eye socket.

"I'd hit his first ball but his next one was a yard quicker and before I knew it I was on the deck. I've been more wary this year but it shook my confidence.

"Now I just take every ball as it comes. I did a lot of work over the winter and thing s have been a bit better this year. The wickets have been fairly lively but I've got the confidence of knowing I can move out of the way."

Tomorrow, Adams is set to face Kasprowicz for the first time at the Rose Bowl since last year's extraordinary encounter.

On that occasion the Australian quick took a first innings' 5 for 48 to force Hampshire to follow on - and still finished on the losing side!

"I'll probably never play in a game like that again, it was phenomenal," added Adams, who is relishing his latest battle with Kasprowicz after scoring two fifties last month.

"In the first innings at Cardiff he bowled bouncers but it was more a case of trying to keep me off strike. Every bowler has it in his armoury and he used it to stop me trying to pinch the strike with a single.

"Kasprowicz is actually one of the nicest blokes around, he plays hard but he wanted to check everything was fine where he hit me last year.

"He hits the deck quite hard but the wickets last year were a bit fruitier and a few more balls took off."

Adams is set to play his third championship game of the season tomorrow after being named in a squad of 12 for the match against third-placed Glamorgan.

Hampshire (from): Brown, Adams, Crawley, Clarke, Kenway, Pothas, Mascarenhas, Warne, Udal, Taylor, Mullally, Bruce.

Hampshire's crucial National League match against the Surrey Lions was washed out without a ball being bowled yesterday - three months after the match between the same teams was rained off at The Oval.

When a pitch inspection was planned for 8.10pm, there remained the possibility of a ten overs a side contest.

But another downpour gave umpires Anthony Clarkson and Mervyn Kitchen no choice but to abandon the game.