Australian duo Neser and Lehmann join Hampshire for 2026
Australian duo Michael Neser and Jake Lehmann will join Hampshire for the 2026 summer.
All-rounder and Australian international Neser took 13 wickets for Hampshire in 2024 across eight matches in the County Championship and Vitality Blast. Currently part of Australia’s Ashes squad, Neser claimed a maiden five wicket haul in Tests in the Aussies’ win at Brisbane.
Left-hander batter Lehmann is the son of former Australian all-rounder and Head Coach Darren Lehmann, and nephew of former Hampshire coach Craig White. He has scored over 5,000 runs in First-Class cricket for South Australia and has 16 career centuries to his name.
Neser, 35, will feature in the first six County Championship matches prior to the Vitality Blast.
In this winter’s Sheffield Shield, Neser has claimed 14 wickets in just three matches, with two four wicket hauls for Queensland. The right arm fast-medium bowler featured in three County Championship campaigns for Glamorgan which saw him take 80 wickets in 20 matches at an average of 23 and scored 822 runs with two centuries and three fifties.
In Sheffield Shield matches over the last two seasons, Neser has claimed 45 wickets in 10 games averaging under 22. He has also featured three times for Australia in Test cricket and twice in pink ball Ashes matches; his 13 wickets have come at 15.53 apiece.
Jake Lehmann, 33, has signed a two-year deal with Hampshire to feature in all formats.
He made his professional debut in 2015 and has forged a successful career in the middle order at South Australia.
In the ongoing Sheffield Shield, Lehmann is the Redbacks’ leading run scorer and has the third-most runs of anyone in the competition with 426. He has also scored two centuries and one fifty (96 v Western Australia) in his ten innings so far. Last season, Lehmann scored 750 runs, including a century in the final, to help South Australia to their first Sheffield Shield title since 1995-96.
Jake Lehmann said: “I’m excited to join Hampshire on a two-year deal, it’s great to return to county cricket. Hampshire has a fantastic history of Australian players and to follow in the footsteps of Shane Warne, Matthew Hayden and the like is really special.
“I look forward to joining up with the team at Utilita Bowl and hopefully contributing to the trophy cabinet.”
The left-hander has previously featured in the County Championship across short stints with Yorkshire in 2016, where he averaged 54.85, and Lancashire in 2019 when he scored 419 runs with two fifties and one hundred.
He will play under his British passport and therefore play as a local domestic player for Hampshire.
Giles White, Director of Cricket, said: “In Michael Neser and Jake Lehmann, we have two players who have the ability to make a significant impact.
“Michael brings valuable runs alongside his quality with the ball - he will partner Kyle Abbott as one of our overseas players.
“Jake is in outstanding form and is the leading run scorer in Shield cricket over the past 18 months. With a British passport, he is eligible to play as a locally qualified player, allowing flex in strengthening the squad.
“Both players possess a great attitude and bring quality and experience; it’s a big boost as we look to finalise our plans ahead of 2026.”
Fans can watch Michael Neser and Jake Lehmann in Hampshire colours with a Hampshire Cricket Membership.
Memberships are available from just £220 which grants access to all of Hampshire men and women’s home matches across the County Championship and One Day Cup. Premium memberships, which include access to the Vitality Blast, are available for £280 with young adult and junior memberships starting at £30.
For more information on Hampshire Cricket’s membership packages, please visit www.utilitabowl.com/membership.