County’s batting woes are a problem that needs solving

There is an immediate return to action for Northamptonshire as they welcome Somerset in the LV= County Championship today (noon).
Richard Levi missed the trips to Lord's and Hove but could return to the County's four-day side todayRichard Levi missed the trips to Lord's and Hove but could return to the County's four-day side today
Richard Levi missed the trips to Lord's and Hove but could return to the County's four-day side today

While relegation back to Division Two looks to be almost nailed on after a winless 10 games, it isn’t quite a mathematical certainty and while that is the case a radical shift in selection policy isn’t on the cards.

Anyway, there is only so much tinkering that could be done given the small number of players available so changes from the defeat down at Hove aren’t likely to be widespread.

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There could be a return for Richard Levi, who has missed the past two four-day outings, for a final hutrrah before Neil Wagner arrives for the final five games.

Loan batsman Adam Rossington could also make his Championship bow for the club after registering a century for the Second XI against Somerset in the week.

While every department of the game has found the County lacking, it has been the batting that has been especially poor.

In 20 innings, 300 has only been reached on a paltry three occasions and head coach David Ripley knows this has to be corrected if any significant improvement is to be made.

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He said: “Statistics don’t tell you everything but if you look at our batting averages we’ve got nobody over 30.

“We’re out of games almost before we start because we keep losing early wickets and that has to be rectified.”

Northants from: Peters, Middlebrook, Kettleborough, Spriegel, Newton, Coetzer, Levi, Duckett, Willey, Crook, Stone, Azharullah, Chambers.