SHANE Watson is returning to Hampshire earlier then expected, after skipper Shane Warne has been ruled out of the County Championship match with Somerset, which starts today.

The Australian was due to return to replace his fellow countryman, when the spin king left for test duty against Sri Lanka next month.

However, Warne broke a bone in his hand against Essex, so the all-rounder, who was 23 yesterday, returns to the county ranks sooner then expected, having played just a single one-day game earlier in the season at Old Trafford for Hampshire.

The Australian legend saw a hand specialist on Monday and is now rated at 50/50 as being fit for the two tests.

Warne, suffered the unfortunate break when he was hit by a ball from Darren Gough while batting.

This was the only downside of an excellent result which saw Hampshire gain swift revenge for a totesport defeat with a 114-run victory in the county Championship.

Hampshire, having decided to bat, made what proved to be a match-winning total in the first innings of 353.

John Crawley continued his recent good form since returning from injury as he top-scored with 97.

He shared a 137-run third wicket stand with Australian Michael Clarke who scored 69.

Good lower order batting from Nic Pothas (57), Dimitri Mascarenhas (32), and an unbeaten 43 from Shaun Udal, gave the visitors something to bowl at.

The home side were then bowled out for 158 as Chris Tremlett took 4-29 and Aftab Habib top-scored with 42.

Hampshire then struggled themselves with the bat, making just 154 second time around as Warne top scoring with 34, despite his injury.

This left Essex with the task of scoring 350 for victory and, thanks to Billy Taylor's career best 5-73 and Udal's 4-55, the home side never even got close, losing in the end by 114 runs, with Graham Napier top-scoring with an unbeaten 51 in their 235 total.