Northants issue contract deadline to Aussie bowler Copeland

The Australian seamer was a huge success in his two-month stint that recently concluded, taking in excess of 50 wickets in all competitions, but having agreed to a short-term deal the player’s return to Sydney was always on the cards.

Copeland’s success has led the club to seek to re-engage his services in the final weeks of the campaign - for four County Championship and three YB40 games - and they are prepared to wait until receiving a final answer.

Chief executive David Smith said: “I’ve been in contact with Trent and the club have given him until July 5 to decide.

“We’d like him back but that’s entirely up to him and if he doesn’t then we will decide what to do.

“We’ve got an obligation to be sensible from a financial perspective and we won’t be throwing money at anyone, but the chance to bring someone in would still be there.”