Lehmann to name 'mixed squad' as Northants take on Cardiff UCCE in friendly

The three-day game starts on Saturday (March 28), and will be the County’s only pre-season hit on home soil ahead of the Rothesay County Championship opener against Lancashire at Wantage Road on Good Friday (April 3).

The Northants squad returned home from their pre-season training camp in South Africa on Sunday, and head coach Lehmann is now turning his attention to the run out against the students - although he has admitted some key men will be sitting out the game.

“It is a bit of a mixed squad, because Cardiff have asked to play 13 as well,” confirmed the Australian. “We will sort of mix our squad around a little bit, depending on what we are doing.

“It will be 13 and that’s it, and some of the blokes who are up and ready to go for the first game, they won’t play.

“But the blokes who want an extra hit and things like that, they will play.”

One player who could feature is young fast bowler Raphy Weatherall, who hasn’t played a competitive game since April last year after he suffered a stress fracture in his back.

The 21-year-old has worked hard to regain full fitness and is ready to go after working hard over the winter months, but Lehmann says he will not be rushed.

“Everybody is fit, so we have a full squad to pick from at the moment,” said the head coach. “Raphy is fit to play and he is looking really good.

“He’ll play in the game at the weekend, but he might bowl less, to make sure he is ready to go for the first match.

“He has all the attributes to go to the next level, although he is only young.

“We won’t be playing him back-to-back games because of his injury profile, but we will look after him as we want him to play a lot more than he did last year.”

Play will start at 11am on all three days of the Cardiff UCCE match, and admission is free.