Jayden Seales to make County Championship return with Hampshire

West Indies fast-bowler Jayden Seales has signed for Hampshire for the opening leg of the County Championship 2026. The 24-year-old replaces the departing Australian all-rounder Michael Neser for the first six games of the domestic season, who has been recalled by Cricket Australia.

Seales has previously appeared in the Championship, playing 10 games for Sussex across 2024 and 2025. In this span he picked up 39 wickets at 28.46, with best figures of 5 for 29 against Derbyshire in 2024. His performances played a crucial role in Sussex’s promotion to Division One in 2024.

Hampshire’s Director of Cricket Giles White expressed his disappointment at Neser’s departure, but was delighted with the arrival of Seales, and his return to the County Championship.

“We’re obviously disappointed not to have Michael Neser with us this summer, but it opens the door to an exciting new addition,” he said.

“Jayden Seales is a bowler with pace and skill, and most importantly, the appetite to run in hard and take the game on. He joins a proud line of West Indian cricketers who’ve represented the club with distinction over the years, and we can’t wait to see him in action at the start of the season,” he further added.

Seales made his international debut for the West Indies in 2021, having played just one first-class match prior to that appearance. 

In a span of five years, he has accumulated 64 appearances across formats and now leads the West Indies attack in Test and ODI cricket. In 26 Tests, the Trinidad & Tobago-born speedster has 95 wickets at an average of 25.87. He also has 40 wickets in 29 ODIs at 30.07.

Hampshire kick off their County Championship 2026 campaign at the Utilita Bowl against Essex on April 3, 2026.