Given how beset Worcestershire are with all manner of difficulties on and off the field, Shane Warne accorded them and their groundsman marked respect yesterday. Having not enforced the follow-on and aware that Ben Smith had a broken finger and would not go in again, he batted on until Hampshire had a lead of 531.

Shaun Udal and Warne then took three wickets between them and only Moeen Ali, on his first championship appearance for his new county, was at all resolute, striking 12 fours in an unbeaten 73.

Every one of Hampshire’s upper order who went to the crease contributed significantly to their total of 376 for two, no one more so than Michael Carberry. His century was his second of the match and his third against Worcestershire this season. He has worn a black armband in honour of his grandfather, who has died in Barbados, and batted here as if his high scoring was preordained. His opening partnerships with Michael Brown have been 111 and 199, the latter the county’s highest of the summer for any wicket. This stand was only five runs short of Hampshire’s record opening partnership against Worces-tershire.

Carberry collects his runs rather than bludgeoning them, in contrast to Jimmy Adams’s batting on this occasion; he is probably more animated in his winter role as a disc jockey, to which he will revert soon. But he can play, having left Kent, his previous county, because of a lack of opportunities, not perceived lack of ability.

By the time Carberry was taken at slip, aiming to cut Ray Price, he had made 120 off 158 balls with 20 fours. Brown contributed 88 before he top-edged a pull. The most elegant batting came from John Crawley, who has been awarded a benefit next season, having not had one in his 11 years with Lancashire. His half-century took him 36 balls and Adams belted ten fours and four sixes in his unbeaten 82. By the end of the Hampshire innings, they were both scoring at will.

Still the pitch was not taking any spin, which doubtless affected Warne’s thinking in delaying his declaration. Nonetheless, the first two wickets were taken by Udal, who had Daryl Mitchell caught by Nic Pothas in his first over, pushing forward, and Stephen Moore held at mid-on, rashly trying to clear the infield.

Graeme Hick struck the off spinner for four, six, four from successive balls, but was beaten when James Tomlinson angled a ball across him. A side of all sorts they may be, but at least in Tomlinson and James Bruce they are fielding a promising opening attack of genuine Hampshire men.