Josh Cobb keen to get out in the fresh air after a winter of hard work at the County Ground

It has been a long winter of hard work for the England-based players, who reported back to the County Ground for pre-season at the beginning of November, and have been pretty much hard at it ever since.

Some players have gone abroad to get some sun on their backs and some time in the middle, but the bulk of the squad have stayed put, and have been putting in plenty of hours in at the Lynn Wilson Centre under the watchful eyes of head coach David Ripley and his new support duo John Sadler and Chris Liddle.

The County are gearing up for their return to the Specsavers County Championship Division One following their promotion last season, and they are doing all they can to make sure they are in the best possible shape.

“It does feel like quite a long while, being stuck in one place, but it has been good,” said Cobb when asked how the close-season has been going.

“We have had a few different blocks, so before Christmas it was mainly based around fitness which the lads got stuck into.

"Since Christmas it has been more skills-based, and there has been a bit of a fresh feel about that with the two new coaches and has been excellent.

“The lads have really been putting in the shift, and now we have a two-week block to get ready for the trip to Singapore.”

The County are scheduled to go to Singapore on March 9, and despite fears over the spread of Coronavirus, that trip is still going ahead as it stands - and Cobb can’t wait.

“It was always great to have that trip to look forward to at the end of the winter,” said the 29-year-old.

“They can be long winters in the indoor nets, and it is good to get outdoors, so fingers crossed everything stays safe and we can get out there as a group.

“That gives us a chance to really get to know a couple of new faces and coaches and have a good time.”

The addition of Sadler and Liddle to the coaching team is certainly something that is welcomed by Cobb, although that is no criticism of the previous coaches, Phil Rowe and David Sales, who left the club at the end of last year.

“We have two new voices which are slightly different to what we have had before,” said Cobb.

“That freshens things up, and I suppose it keeps people on their toes a little bit as they get to know the new coaches, and vice-versa.

“It is just fresh ideas, and different people’s ideas are neither right or wrong, sometimes it is slightly different and that might work for the odd player here or there, but they are doing really well.”

It has been a hugely encouraging winter at the County Ground, with several established players committing to new deals, and a batch of new signings also being made for red and white-ball cricket.

“Last year, to get promoted in the Championship was excellent, and this year the aim is to have a good crack at division one,” said Cobb.

“The board have put good faith in the coaches and captains with some of their signings, and have really shown faith going forward by adding to the squad. They are exciting times.”

Cobb is Northants’ white-ball skipper, but the club’s initial focus this summer will be the six Championship matches that start the season.

And the former Leicestershire man is keen to stake his claim to be part of that, despite a reduced role in four-day cricket in the past couple of seasons.

Batsman Cobb played just six Championship matches last season, having played only five in 2018, and he knows he has to earn his place by impressing out in the middle during pre-season.

“The lads have done well,” said Cobb. “I have played just over half of the four-day games over the past three years, but I would like to play in them all.

“I am aware of where my four-day game is at though. I do feel like I am improving, but when I get to 60, then I need to go on and get the 100s.

“That is where I am at personally, but it has been nice to be involved in a side that has been successful, and you want to play as much as you can in teams that are having success.

“With the new faces that have arrived, and the bigger squad, that creates competition and that is always good as well.”