Hampshire director of cricket Giles White is considering whether to recall Gareth Berg for this week's match against champions Essex at The Ageas Bowl.

The Hampshire all-rounder was rested from the team that lost to Surrey at The Oval, where Chris Wood played instead, as his fiancée was due to give birth to their second child last week.

With the baby yet to arrive, Hampshire are considering whether to leave Berg out again.

“We’re talking about that at the moment,” said White. “We’re waiting to see how things pan out in the next couple of days.

"He’s a key player for us so it’s tempting to play him, especially as we’re at home.”

Hampshire will be aiming to put their 139-run defeat at Surrey behind them.

“We were disappointed to be bowled out for 147, we were always going to be up against it after that,” said White.

“The wicket got better as the game went on and it was a case of trying to hang on for the draw.

"Losing Amla and Vince when we did [late on the penultimate day] put us on the back foot but it was a tremendous effort from Sam Northeast and that was a huge positive, he batted extremely well.”

Essex’s opening game against Yorkshire at Headingley was abandoned, but their match-winners last year, Jamie Porter and Simon Harmer, took 15 wickets between them as Lancashire were beaten by 31 runs at Chelmsford last week.