Paul Terry has rubbished speculation that Mark Waugh is set to join Shane Warne at Hampshire next season.

Waugh's decision to retire from international cricket following his omission from the Australia squad for the forthcoming Ashes series has made a full season on the county circuit in 2003 a distinct possibility.

And his friendship with Hampshire skipper Warne has seen him linked with a move to The Rose Bowl.

Warne and 37-year-old Waugh, who scored 8,029 runs at an average of 41 in 128 Tests, have experienced the rough and the smooth together. Accepting money off an Indian bookmaker in 1994 is, by their own admission, the biggest mistake of their respective careers.

But the good far outweighs the bad.

Terry Jenner, Warne's leg spin mentor, once said you went to the cricket in the mid-90s to watch Shane Warne bowl and Mark Waugh bat.

The prospect of watching two of the game's great entertainers at The Rose Bowl would be a mouth-watering one for the county's members but Hampshire Cricket manager Terry said: "It's unlikely Mark Waugh will be coming to Hampshire.

"We're obviously searching for another overseas player but he is not among the players we've spoken to."

If Waugh (pictured) does decide to return to county cricket, his former club Essex would be the likely favourites to sign him.

Waugh scored 242 championship runs in just three innings as a replacement for Andy Flower at the end of last season and in his four previous English county summers - 1988, '89, '92 and '95 - he averaged just under 60 for Essex.

Terry was in the Hamp-shire side when Waugh scored a fluent 136 for Essex at Colchester before being bowled by Shaun Udal seven years ago.

And Hampshire and Terry were also the opponents when, as a 24-year-old, Waugh hit his maiden county championship century.

It was Terry who caught the New South Wales star off the bowling of Nigel Cowley after Waugh had made 109 at Ilford in 1989.

Terry is spending the winter coaching at his AusCricket Academy in Perth, where his pupils include Hampshire's Derek Kenway.

Last month he was involved in the planning of Hampshire's 2003 campaign when he, Warne, Robin Smith, Rod Bransgrove and Tim Tremlett all met up in Sharjah.

That was before Warne, who is currently captaining Victoria against Tasmania in the Pura Cup, helped Australia to a third Test win against Pakistan.

"It was good to catch up with Warney," added Terry.

"He talked about his views for next year, which were interesting, but we're not in a position to name our second overseas player yet."

"Neil Johnson is still an option," added Terry. "His availability is good, which is an important thing, as is ability to open the batting."

Paul Nixon, the wicketkeeper linked with Hampshire on being released by Kent, has rejoined Leicester-shire, while ex-Hampshire man Nixon McLean has agreed a move to Somerset.