Coach Lehmann says Northants spearheads Conway and Sanderson need more support

The Australian has been delighted with the start to the season from his two main pace bowlers.

They currently sit second and third in the Rothesay County Championship Division Two wicket-takers, behind only Lancashire and England legend Jimmy Anderson who leads the way with 21 scalps.

Aussie Conway is next on the list with 16 wickets at 19.87 and then Sanderson, who has twice taken five wickets in an innings, is third with 14 victims at 20.64.

Decent support for the pair has come from leg-spinner with Calvin Harrison, who has struck 10 times, but the first and second change seamers have struggled.

Luke Procter, Liam Guthrie James Sales and Raphy Weatherall have managed to snare just five scalps between them in 127 overs in the opening three matches, and Lehmann knows that has to improve if his team is to challenge for promotion this season.

Asked about Conway and Sanderson, Lehmann said: "They have been excellent for us in all three games.

"They are leading wicket-takers and do a lot of the grunt work early.

"We rested them up in the afternoon against Middlesex for obvious reasons, and they get a 10-day break now ahead of that all-important game against Worcestershire next Friday.

"That is important for us, we have to start well and they have got a big part to play in that.

"But we have to help them out with that with our third and fourth seamers.

"It feels like they are a bit short and a bit down on confidence in that area, so we have some work to do to get that right."

The return to fitness of Justin Broad could be a big help, but he has yet to bowl a ball this season.

The all-rounder has yet to feature in the first after picking up a minor back strain, and although he did play for the second team in their clash with Warwickshire last week, he played as a batter only.

The other seam options open to Lehmann that have yet to play for the firsts this term are Gus Miller, George Scrimshaw, Dom Leech and Tiaan Louw.