Ripley embarrassed by dreadful County display

The Northamptonshire head coach watched on as his side were bowled out twice in a matter of hours on their way to an eighth innings defeat of the season.

Chris Rushworth produced an excellent display of bowling to take 9-52 and 6-43 as Northamptonshire were dismissed for 83 and 90.

But Ripley was in no mood to dodge any flak as he reflected on a dreadful - and all-too-brief - showing at Chester-le-Street.

“It was verging on embarrassing in many respects,” he admitted.

“He (Rushworth) bowled exceptionally and skilfully and looked like taking a wicket every over – which he more or less did.

“We had no answers to him and we must not take anything away from him for a superb performance.

“But we are more than disappointed with the way we have played.

“We came up short. We are lacking confidence and we lacked skill.

“There was a sort of end-of-seasonitis about us - but that cannot be used as an excuse.

“We were outplayed on both days and that is very difficult to take.

“The lads are all hurting.

“There is no way that was a 390 wicket which suggests we didn’t bowl well enough on the first day.

“And there is no excuse for what happened today which, as I said, it really is verging on embarrassing.”