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Rod Bransgrove celebrates winning the T20 Blast with CEO David Mann during an era that has seen the shortest format become completely dominant. Image: Dave Vokes/Hampshire Cricket
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"I'd put my mortgage on it being the most expensive bilateral tour in cricket history..." Bransgrove raises questions over cricket's future

Rod Bransgrove has never been a man to sit on the fence. And on the eve of his final summer in charge of Hampshire, he tells The Hawk that he has serious concerns for the sport's future outside of the Hundred and international hosting counties. And asks whether the cash spent on the Ashes was money well spent.

02.04.26, 10:00 Updated 02.04.26, 18:48

Rich Edwards

Rich Edwards

The cricket world may have changed out of all recognition since 2000, but Rod Bransgrove has run like a theme through the sport in Hampshire for the past 26 years.

This summer, he'll share his time between the Utilita Bowl and Mallorca.

As the sun sets on his time on the south coast, he admits that he's leaving behind a sport facing an uncertain future. He is, though, confident that Hampshire are in safe hands under the leadership of GMR.

His wider concerns lie with the scheduling - and he's far from alone in that respect - the parlous financial state of some of the 18 counties, most notably near-neighbours Sussex, and the increasing friction between the ECB and the county game.

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