James Vince 9

The leading run scorer in the LV County Championship’s second division and his aggregate of 2,065 in all competitions makes him the top scorer in the country across the formats. This was also the season he became Hampshire’s youngest post-war captain and he led the team with maturity in the T20 Blast, to a record fifth successive Finals Day. He would have hoped for more than four centuries after hitting two before the end of April, but his 240 against Essex was a career-best and ultimately crucial to Hampshire’s Championship promotion, as was his 144 against Glamorgan this week. A fine all-round fielder, he also took 30 catches in all competitions, mostly at third slip in the Championship. Will spend part of the winter with the England Performance Programme in Sri Lanka, but big runs in division one next year will make his case for a full international call-up unanswerable.

Will Smith 9

County cricket’s signing of the season. He reached 1,000 Championship runs for the first time in his career during his match-saving second Hampshire century against Kent in the penultimate match. His runs ensured that Neil McKenzie, Hampshire’s lynchpin for four seasons, was hardly missed in the four-day format. Only four players, including teammates James Vince and Jimmy Adams, scored more in division two. The former Durham captain was also Hampshire’s surprise package with the ball in the T20 Blast. His off-spin was particularly effective during the powerplays. Only Danny Briggs took more than his 20 wickets and he claimed a new career-best in the format on three occasions.

Jimmy Adams 9

Passed fifty on seven occasions in the LV County Championship without reaching three figures before his fifth double century for Hampshire (only Phil Mead and Gordon Greenidge have more), against Leicestershire last month, took him past 1,000 runs in a season for the fifth time. Only James Vince, Worcestershire captain Daryl Mitchell and Alex Gidman scored more division two runs and he was Hampshire’s top scorer in both limited-overs competitions. Is yet to confirm he will captain for a fourth season but it was less of a burden in the Championship with the likes of Will Smith and the maturing Vince to offer advice and Kyle Abbott’s wickets early on. Thoroughly deserves the award of his benefit year in 2015.

Sean Ervine 8

Saved his best form for the last two Championship matches. Was without a century since May 2012 when two came along in eight days as he rescued Hampshire with 121 against Kent and 107 against Glamorgan in Cardiff. They surpassed his back-to-back hundreds in the semi-final and final of the 2005 C& G Trophy as the most important of his county career. He ended up with 856 Championship runs at 45.05 – his best first-class average in ten seasons with Hampshire. His division two winner’s medal also takes him past David Turner as the most decorated player in the county’s history, with six.

James Tomlinson 8

Hampshire’s bearded talisman. Ended the season with his first five-fer in 14 months to secure promotion. The left-armer’s 6-48 against Glamorgan in Cardiff is the highlight of his career. No-one deserved it more as he has been Hampshire’s most successful bowler in division two, with 143 wickets at 25.3 over the last three seasons, including 47 at 25.8 this year. He was also a valuable No 11. His career-best 51 ensured Hampshire were not beaten by Gloucestershire in July and his defiant innings in the penultimate match against Kent were also decisive in overtaking Worcestershire.

Michael Carberry 8

Was unfortunate to be dropped by England in all three formats, starting with his Test omission despite being one of the better performers during the Ashes whitewash. And a hand injury sustained in practice ruled him out of the last two Championship matches, denying him the chance to reach 1,000 first-class runs in a season for the first time since 2010. But in between he showed his class. His 125 on the last day at Worcestershire in June was ultimately title-winning and he was Hampshire’s most consistent batsman in the T20 Blast (424 runs at 32.6).

Kyle Abbott 8

Provided everything that could be expected of an overseas bowler and more while playing nine of Hampshire’s first 11 Championship matches. His 36 wickets at 20.3 apiece included a season’s best match haul of 8-67 in the thrashing of Essex at The Ageas Bowl. Without that performance, Hampshire may well have finished outside the promotion positions instead of going up as champions. His T20 stats do not reflect the quality of his death bowling during the group stage. Does not expect Cricket South Africa to allow him to return next season but is likely to be back for future stints.

Danny Briggs 7

Enjoyed the best LV County Championship form of his career, taking 27 wickets at just 26.1 apiece, including 5-50 at Derby in June. But he only played eight games and was left out of the crucial last two following the signing of Imran Tahir. It was harsh on the young slow left-armer, who replaced Dimi Mascarenhas as Hampshire’s top T20 wicket-taker while taking another 21 in the T20 Blast.

Adam Wheater 7

Not as prolific with the bat in the Championship as he was in his first season. But his 107 against his former Essex teammates at Colchester in June – after Hampshire had been 32-5 – was one of two outstanding centuries made against his previous county, albeit in a losing cause. His 97-ball 135 at Chelmsford last month should have seen Hampshire chase down 325 in the Royal London One-Day Cup but an inexplicable collapse denied them, ending their interest in the competition. His wicketkeeping continues to improve and Hampshire missed him when he was dropped during the group stage of the Natwest T20 Blast.

Matt Coles 7

Relished his chance with the new ball following Kyle Abbott’s departure, reflected by 19 Championship wickets at 24 in the last four matches, out of a season's haul of 41 at 28. But there is still a lot to come from the big man, who has not taken a five-fer since ending his 2013 loan spell with 15 wickets at 15.3 apiece. He was Hampshire’s most successful T20 seamer, taking 18 wickets with the help of his well-disguised slower balls and he also smashed the county’s fastest T20 fifty - from only 18 deliveries. But he conceded 50 against Lancashire as Hampshire were thrashed at Finals Day.

Chris Wood 7

The left-armer is best known for his limited-overs skills but produced his best form in the last four Championship matches, taking 15 wickets at 16.8 to ensure that Kyle Abbott was more than adequately replaced. He also scored some very important runs, enhancing his reputation as an all-rounder. His performance in his first Championship game after undergoing microfracture surgery on his right knee in December (5-39 and 61 against Kent at Canterbury last month), renewed confidence for the promotion run-in.

Liam Dawson 6

Unfortunate to be injured in the opening T20 Blast match, he was out for two months after tearing a groin muscle while batting against Glamorgan on May 16. His season never really got going when he returned but he was as reliable as ever in the slip cordon. James Vince was the only fielder to take more catches.

Imran Tahir 6

A controversial replacement for Danny Briggs in the last two games and Hampshire’s homegrown slow left-armer would not have done any worse than Tahir’s six wickets at 30. But Tahir’s match-winning leg-spin is likely to see him return to Hampshire.

Owais Shah 6

The T20 freelancer was drafted in for six games following Liam Dawson’s injury in the opening T20 Blast match. He scored match-winning runs in two of them but it was hardly surprising that he failed to do so at Finals Day, having flown in from a family holiday in Dubai just hours earlier.

Tom Alsop 6

Advanced his cause with 150 against a strong Surrey attack in a Second Eleven Championship match, as well as a century for England Under-19s against South Africa. The experience he gained from replacing Michael Carberry for the crucial last two LV County Championship matches will stand him in good stead.

Sean Terry 6

Took a catch as England’s 12th man during the Ageas Bowl Test before hitting back-to-back fifties in the Royal London One-Day Cup. But the batsman’s season was marred by a broken arm caused by a Chris Tremlett delivery in a Second Eleven Championship match in May. Highly rated by Hampshire coach Dale Benkenstein, the son of county legend Paul Terry is sure to get more opportunities next year.

Michael Bates 6

It was inevitable that one of Hampshire’s wicketkeepers would have to go and Bates’ days at The Ageas Bowl were numbered from the moment Adam Wheater was signed 18 months ago. With Lewis McManus and Tom Alsop providing more competition, four into three does not go. So arguably the best young wicketkeeper in the country is surplus to requirements. Still only 23, Bates was an integral part of three trophy-winning teams from 2010-12. He scored 828 Championship runs at 24.35 over the last three seasons, including 181 at 25.8 in the first half of this year. But his batting, particularly in limited-overs cricket, was not deemed good enough.

Glenn Maxwell 6

An eagerly-anticipated signing for the Natwest T20 Blast following his outstanding form at the Indian Premier League. But he was a big disappointment in the competition he was signed for, managing just 127 runs at an average of 11.5 apiece. Frustratingly, the abiding memory of the Australian’s season was of him holing out rather than clearing the rope. Ironically, his best two innings were in two of his three appearances in the other formats. His thrilling 146 from only 96 balls against Lancashire at Old Trafford powered Hampshire to their only (record-breaking) win in the Royal London One-Day Cup. And on his County Championship debut he hit a match-saving 85 from 87 deliveries against Worcestershire at New Road, without which Hampshire would probably have had to settle for the runners-up spot. 

David Balcombe 5

Joined Surrey after struggling with a knee injury that restricted him to four first-team games all season. Took 3-53 at Worcestershire in June but five wickets at 48 apiece was not enough to convince Hampshire to offer him more than a one-year contract. His best performance was with the bat, an unbeaten 65 in a 110-run last-wicket stand with James Tomlinson against Gloucestershire in July.

Joe Gatting 5

Restricted to just three limited-overs appearances and one half-century in 12 Championship innings is not the return he would have hoped for after arriving from Sussex during the winter. Was a surprise signing given the strength of Hampshire’s batting but the former Brighton & Hove Albion striker has another year to make an impression.