Northants Coach Lehmann delighted with improved fitness levels
Darren Lehmann has admitted he is delighted with his squad’s improved fitness levels as Northants prepare to hit the ground running in 2026.
And the head coach insists there is now just some ‘fine tuning’ for his players to do, hailing the squad’s pre-season training camp in South Africa as being ‘a fantastic venture’.
Northants begin their Rothesay County Championship Division Two campaign with a home game against Lancashire on Friday (April 3), and Lehmann believes his squad will start the season in better shape, both physically and technically, than they did 12 months ago.
“I was really pleased with how everybody rocked up,” said Lehmann, who returned to the UK in February, having spent the winter working as a commentator for ABC in Australia.
“After last year I thought we weren’t fit enough as a whole group, but credit to them they have worked hard over the winter.
“November and December is always hard, because it’s all weights, running and gym, with a few technical things with bat and ball.
“It then ramped up after Christmas, and they all came back in great shape after that break, and they are all trying to be the best version of themselves they can be individually and collectively.
“For me it was refreshing to see so much work put in by the guys, especially the older guys, which was fantastic.
“I know it is hard to do that over the winter and come back fit and strong, but they have all come back in better shape and they are hopefully ready to hit the ground running.”
And Lehmann added: “With skill levels, they have all worked on the technical stuff they wanted to do, and now it is just about fine-tuning and getting ready to play.
“I am really pleased, and South Africa was a fantastic little venture for us for two weeks.
“The bowlers were actually out there for three weeks, so they got some good outdoor work into them.
“Now, weather permitting, we will be out and about and okay on turf, so the preparation has all been really good.”
The County completed their only pre-season friendly on home soil on Monday, as they drew their clash with Cardiff UCCE at the County Ground.
After rain wiped out two-thirds of day two, Cardiff resumed the third and final day on 186 for four.
The Students were eventually bowled out for 343 in reply to Northants’ 282 for eight, with leg-spinner Calvon Harrison taking three for 36 and Dom Leech three for 61, while also claiming wickets were Gus Miller, James Sales and Saif Zaib.
In Northants’ second innings, opener Ricardo Vasconcelos retired on 48 while Rob Keogh hit 45 – the pair putting on 81 for the first wicket.
Harrison then added 22 not out to his three wickets as the County closed on 150 for four.