by Mike Vimpany

HAMPSHIRE captain James Vince is expected to make his KFC Big Bash League debut in Hobart on Sunday - against his incoming Australian county team-mate George Bailey.

Vince has arrived in Australia as a replacement for Sydney Thunder batsman Eoin Morgan, who heads to India shortly to captain England in the upcoming one-day series.

He will watch Thunder’s BBL match against Kevin Pietersen’s Melbourne Stars at the Olympic Stadium tonight WED - and then head across to Tasmania for Sunday’s T20 showdown.

Vince will play the final three fixtures of what has proved a tricky campaign for the 2016 BBL champions, who have lost all four games so far.

The 25-year old confessed to be a long time admirer of the KFC Big Bash League.

“I’ve watched the tournament back home over the past two or three years,” said Vince who has played seven Tests, five ODIs and five T20Is for England.

“The tournament has grown each year and it’s right up there behind the IPL as one of the best competitions in the world.”

“I spoke with Eoin about the possibility of playing out here when we were at the World T20 earlier last year and luckily I’ve gotten the opportunity.”

Despite a challenging start for Sydney Thunder in the KFC Big Bash League so far, Vince is determined to make a positive impact on the side.

“It’s not been an ideal start,” Vince said.

“I’m just going to try and contribute to winning a few games. I’ve enjoyed my experiences of playing here in the past, I think the pitches in Australia really suit by style.”

Vince was dropped by England after managing just 53 runs in three ODI innings in Bangladesh in October, while he failed to reach 50 in seven Tests against Sri Lanka and Pakistan during the English summer.

But he has a fine record as a top order batsman in T20, however, with almost 3,000 runs at a strike rate of 128.44, and 20 scores of more than 50.

Former Gosport Borough batsman Chris Lynn has been on fire for Brisbane Heat, with 13 sixes in the BBL.

The big hitting left-hander played Southern Premier League cricket for Gosport in 2008.