HAMPSHIRE begin their Specsavers County Championship campaign at Yorkshire tomorrow with as strong a squad as they have had for a decade.

Rilee Rossouw is expected to make his Hampshire debut at No 3 against the 2014 and 2015 county champions at Headingley.

Kyle Abbott, the other Hampshire signing to end his South Africa career by joining as a Kolpak, will play his first match in the Championship’s first division after helping the county to promotion in 2014.

Michael Carberry is like another new signing after confirming his fitness with extraordinary pre-season form.

The 36 year-old will be reunited with Jimmy Adams at the top of the Hampshire order for the first time since last May.

He goes into his first Championship match since beign diagnosed with cancer in July on the back of his first first-class ton for almost a year.

His 107 against Cardiff MCCU last week was his second century of pre-season. That match also featured 3-22 from Fidel Edwards in the West Indian’s first first-class outing since fracturing his ankle at Headingley in the corresponding match of last season.

Edwards joins Abbott in a formidable bowling attack that will also include Brad Wheal or Mason Crane.

At this stage, no rain is forecast for Leeds over the next four days.

But conditions are likely to mean Crane still misses out, despite his outstanding recent form for New South Wales, for the South against the North and for the MCC against county champions Middlesex in Dubai.

Director of cricket Giles White is just relieved to have a fully-fit squad.

Only Reece Topley and Chris Wood are currently unavailable but will play in the Second XI’s two-day friendly against Lancashire at The Ageas Bowl, which starts today.

White said: “Reece isn’t quite game-ready but hopefully will be for our first home against Middlesex. There’s no need to rush him.

“Woody’s in the same position and we’ll be monitoring how they get on for the Seconds.”

Edwards will no doubt be a little wary of playing in the football warm-up before play at Headingley, following last season’s disaster.

“One or two players may need to start that on the bench,” laughed White, who has been pleased with how Rossouw has adapted in his first experience of English conditions.

“Rilee has looked the high-quality player his record suggests he is and scored a couple of really good in the internal friendly and against Sussex.

“He’s really tested himself against the new ball in preparation for the first game.

“It’s nice to have so many guys fit and we’re looking forward to playing one of the ‘benchmark teams’ in our first game.

“It’s a great opportunity to play them first up with a strong squad to pick from and high quality bowling available.

“If we keep key players on the park we should be very competitive.”

Hampshire (from): Adams, Carberry, Rossouw, Vince, Ervine, Dawson, McManus, Berg, Abbott, Wheal, Crane, Edwards.