Ripley set to carry on rotating as struggling Northants prepare for Glamorgan clash

And that he will also be using the game as something of a warm-up for the opening Vitality T20 Blast match against Gloucestershire at Bristol next Thursday.

That could mean a first appearance of the season for Steelbacks skipper Josh Cobb, who was in stunning form in two T20 practice matches against Leicestershire on Thursday, as well as a return to the line-up for pace bowler and T20 specialist Brandon Glover.

It also means Alex Wakely and Richard Levi could keep their places despite their struggles in the defeat to Worcestershire, as they are going to be key men in the white ball campaign.

Ripley is well aware such a selection policy upsets some supporters of the club, but he believes targeting the T20 this summer is the right thing to do.

Asked about selection for the Glamorgan game, Ripley said : “I am sure there will be changes, and I would like to get Emilio Gay back in the side.

“As a young player I would like him to kick-start his first-class career somewhere in the next couple of games, and that would be really useful as we look forward to next year.

“We also have a strong eye on the Gloucestershire away game in the T20 next week as we move into that Glamorgan game, so again not everybody is going to like that, I know.

“I have had some letters about it, and I have also had one or two sleepless nights about it, but I thought it was the right idea, and the club have supported the idea.”

Northants have struggled in the four-day game so far this season, with the batsmen in particular scratching around for form.

In six innings to date, the County have only managed two scores of more than 200, and have been bowled out for 67, 142, 154 and 184.

Ripley is obviously concerned with that form, but he isn't about to change his mindset about the competition at this stage.

"In the Bob Willis Trophy, we are sharing opportunities and giving guys experience," said the head coach.

“We have seen some glimpses of some good stuff, but our batting stats so far are not strong.

“But we will continue to do the same thing that we have started, because if it was a good idea three games ago it would be silly to abandon it now.

“We will carry on and we will learn a lot about our players in preparation for division one cricket next year, which is what our main focus from these four-day games was.

“Hopefully, some of those statistics will start changing round and we will be patting somebody on the back and saying well played.

"There is no second team cricket, and I would just like to see one or two of the lads that I have had those glimpses from, have a really good day out and help us win a four-day cricket match.”

Saturday’s match is something of a wooden spoon affair, as rock-bottom Northants take on their second-from-bottom visitors.

Neither side has won since the season started on August 1, with Glamorgan drawing with Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, and losing heavily to Somerset.

Like Northants, the Welsh side have struggled badly with the bat, managing just one score of more than 200 in their six innings to date.