Dominic Thornely's one appearance at the Rose Bowl helped him earn his move to Hampshire.

The right-handed batsman scored 73 for Surrey against a Hampshire attack including Shane Warne back in June.

And Paul Terry has revealed that innings, which helped Surrey win by an innings and 55 runs, helped persuade him to make Thornely Hampshire's latest Australian signing.

Hants boss Terry said: "Dominic did very well against Warney and impressed us all.

"It's always good to have good players of spin, it's an area we need to improve on and he will help us to do that.

"He's another of those young Australian batsmen who has a hunger for runs and is someone who will fit in very well.

"I've seen a fair bit of him over the last couple of years. He's been doing very well for New South Wales, and is regarded as one of the better young players in Australia, along with his state teammate, Phil Jaques, and Mark Cosgrove.

"He's quite a late developer. It's not like he's been playing for six or seven years, but in the short time he's been in the New South Wales side he has made a big impact.

"He's already highly regarded in Australia and is looking to improve."

Hampshire were turned down by Matthew Hayden and Damien Martyn before opting for Thornely - with the help of a reference from his NSW teammate Katich.

Terry added: "I've always been pretty keen on him and spoke to Kat, who is a very big fan of his, during the summer and again a month or so ago.

"Warney has already spoken to him and is pleased to have him, as we all are."

Thornely has scored 2049 first class runs at 49.97 and helped NSW win the Pura Cup, Australia's equivalent of the county championship, in 2004-05.

He looks set to help his state retain the title this year.

He is also keen to develop his bowling when he arrives at Hampshire for his first full season of county cricket in April.

So far his right-arm medium has yielded nine first class wickets at 66.6.

Terry added: "Dominic is very keen to develop his game and wants to do a lot of bowling.

"He doesn't get that opportunity for New South Wales but he will get plenty of opportunities for us if that's what he wants.

"He's also an excellent fielder, especially at cover, which fits in with what I'm trying to achieve with the one-day side."

Thornely will become the seventh Australian to play for Hampshire since Terry arrived as team manager in 2003 - after Warne, Michael Dighton, Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Shane Watson and Andy Bichel.