Hampshire have been linked with a move for Nottinghamshire veteran Andre Adams.

The New Zealander will be 40 next year and is planning to retire after struggling with injury for the last two seasons.

But Hampshire are desperate to add more firepower to their attack and Adams’ record in the LV County Championship’s first division is outstanding.

Kyle Abbott is unlikely to return next year so Hampshire will need a new-ball replacement, especially if they win promotion next month.

Adams has played 42 one-day internationals but has not played limited-overs county cricket for a few years and injuries have limited him to 20 Championship matches in the last two seasons.

But he has still taken 67 wickets at 28.98 in that time, including 36 at 28.13 this year (he has 344 Championship wickets at 24.18 for Notts overall).

Only one other New Zealander has taken more than Adams’ 683 first-class wickets at 23.75 – Sir Richard Hadlee.

Adams would need no introduction to Hampshire’s batsmen, having taken 40 wickets at 17.22 against them in the Championship – his best record against county opposition.

That includes his career-best 11-85 at Trent Bridge in April 2011, at the beginning of Hampshire’s last season in the first division.

Adams already knows namesake Jimmy as Hampshire’s captain played alongside him for Auckland in 2010/11.

The Kiwi helped Auckland end Hampshire’s T20 Champions League dream at the first hurdle in South Africa two years ago and is currently fit and on form, having taken 6-113 as Notts maintained their title challenge with victory over Northants last week.

But after signing Will Gidman from Gloucestershire and Harry Gurney for another three years, Notts do not have the right-armer in their on-field plans beyond this season.

Notts coach Mick Newell said: “We’ve had no approach from Hampshire but we’ve told Andre we won’t be extending his contract.

“He’s been terrific for us and is now moving into coaching but when he’s been fit he’s still been our best bowler this season. He’s been absolutely brilliant year after year since we signed him in 2007.”