'Driven' Northants overseas signing Nathan McSweeney 'has all the shots'
Darren Lehmann has told the Northants supporters they are going to love new overseas signing Nathan McSweeney.
And the head coach has compared the 26-year-old's 'classical' batting style to another Australian that played for the County in the mid-2000s - Martin Love.
McSweeney, who is is currently captaining South Australia in the Sheffield Shield, will team up with Northants later this month, ahead of the County Championship opener against Lancashire on April 3.
He will arrive with a big reputation, having made his Test debut for Australia against India last year. He also hit a double ton for Australia A against England Lions in the winter, and Lehmann is in no doubt he will be an asset to Northants.
"Nathan is a class player," Lehmann told Steelbacks TV. "He has got all the shots.
"Martin Love was a very classical player for Northamptonshire, and Nathan is very classical and you will like the way he plays.
"He is a lovely young man who has a big thirst for runs, and he needs to make big runs to get back into the Australian team. He is quite driven, and that is what we want to see.
"He also bowls really handy off-spin, and is a fantastic fielder, and the crowd and the fans will love him.
"Nathan is quiet and unassuming, but he is really friendly and approachable."
McSweeney has not enjoyed the best of domestic red ball seasons with the bat to date, scoring 342 runs at a modest 26.30, with just one century and one 50.
But he did smack 222 not out for Australia A against the Lions in December.
He is also on the brink of leading his state to a second successive Sheffield Shield Final.
South Australia go into their final group match on Friday when they travel to Victoria, who have already booked home advantage in the final.
SA go into that game sitting second in the table after a thumping nine-wicket win over New South Wales at the weekend and are in the box seat for a final place.
They have a six-point advantage over third-placed Queensland, who go to Tasmania for their last group encounter.
Last season, McSweeney captained South Australia to their first Sheffield Shield title since 1996.