Lehmann targeting a flyer as Northants host Lancashire in season opener
Darren Lehmann is targeting a flying start to the season when Northants host Lancashire in their County Championship opener on Friday (start 11am) - but he is under no illusion as to how tough the four-day campaign is going to be this summer.
The County’s ambition in red ball cricket is to win promotion this season, but that is going to be a tall order.
The two teams relegated last summer, Durham and Worcestershire, will be targeting an instant return, while this week’s opponents Lancashire also have lofty ambitions under skipper Jimmy Anderson.
Throw in the mix the always competitive counties of Gloucestershire, Derbyshire, Kent and Middlesex, and the head coach knows there is a long slog ahead.
“They are all tough games,” said Lehmann ahead of the visit of Lancashire.
“If you think of the teams who came down, you have Durham who are a Test ground team, you have Worcester who have come down, and there are some good teams in the division.
“I don’t think there is a lot of difference between division one and two, because from what I’ve seen there is a lot of quality in county cricket.
“Yes, there is a bit more in division one, but it’s not as big a difference as everybody says.
“You think of Lancashire, and when they came down you would think they would go straight back up, but they didn’t.
“This division is tough work, and you have to play well.”
Northants are set to hand a debut to Australia Test bater Nathan McSweeney, who arrived in the country on Wednesday, having captained South Australia to the Sheffield Shield title in Melbourne on Monday!
All-rounder Louis Kimber has also been named in the 13-man squad and is also in line for a first Northants run-out, but there is no place for Justin Broad who has picked up a back injury and is set to sit out the first two games.
Jimmy Anderspn captains Lancashire, who are set to hand debuts to all-rounder Paul Coughlin and fast bowler Ajeet Singh Dale following their winter moves from Durham and Gloucestershire respectively.
Keaton Jennings and Tom Aspinwall have both been ruled out through injury, while Marcus Harris misses the opening round due to his involvement in that Shield final, having been part of the losing Victoria team.
Northants squad: Procter, Bartlett, Conway, Guthrie, Harrison, Kimber, McManus, McSweeney, Miller, Sales, Sanderson, Vasconcelos, Zaib.
Lancashire squad: Anderson, Bailey, Balderson, Bell, Bohannon, Coughlin, Flintoff, Hartley, Hurst, Jones, Singh, Singh Dale, Stanley, Wells