Hampshire will take part in the 2018 West Indies Regional Super50 competition early next year.

The 44th edition of the 50-over tournament, which sees fixtures played in Barbados (Group A) and Antigua (Group B), will see Hampshire return to Barbados for an eighth consecutive pre-season in 2018.

Hampshire will head to the island as part of Group A, with the tournament due to get underway in late January.

They will be joined in the West Indies by Kent who will participate in the Super50 for a second successive year, in Antigua as part of Group B.

Hampshire director of cricket Giles White said: “We’re delighted to be involved in the upcoming Super50 competition - it’s a slightly different look to our pre-season but one that we are very happy with and we’re looking forward to be heading back to Barbados once again.

“We’ve got a strong history with Barbados and West Indies Cricket.

“What excites me about this particular trip is, the experience our young players have gained at similar tournaments previously has allowed them to show what they’re able to do at that level.

“They’ve got an awful lot out of it in the years that have followed.

“This as an opportunity for a lot of the younger players to put their hand up and say they’re ready to play. It’ll also be a great period of cricket in February where otherwise we’d be indoors in England.

Fans can also join Hampshire in the Caribbean, courtesy of Smile Group Travel.