HAMPSHIRE have agreed for batsman Will Smith to re-join Durham at the end of the season.

The 34-year-old, who arrived at the Ageas Bowl from Durham in 2014, returns to the county he spent much of his career with having agreed terms with the north east club.

Hampshire director of cricket Giles White said: “Will has been a pleasure to have around and always put team success ahead of personal achievement.

“Although he lacked game time this year, he has remained a great example while leading the second XI.

“We all wish him well with his return to Durham.”

Top-order batsman Smith totalled 3,913 runs in 107 matches for Hampshire across all formats, with 2,982 runs coming in first-class cricket at an average of 37.74.

His most prolific return in the four-day format came during his first season with the club, where he amassed 1,187 runs at 51.60 in the County Championship.

That impressive spell earned Smith the 2014 player-of-the-year award at Hampshire, while helping them claim the Division Two title in the same season.

Smith also captained Hampshire’s four-day side for part of the 2016 season, a campaign which included a career-best 210 against Lancashire in an innings lasting more than nine-and-a-half hours.