Zaib believes increased competition for places can only be good for Northants

The all-rounder was the undoubted star performer for Northants last season, topping the country's run-scoring charts in red ball cricket as he rattled up 1,425 runs, scoring six centuries.

He struggled with the bat in the season opener against Lancashire, but will be one of the first names on head coach Darren Lehmann's teamsheet in the opening weeks of the campaign, but Zaib knows he won't be able to rest on his laurels and live off past achievements.

And he accepts he will be kept on his toes by a string of players fighting to win a first team place at Wantage Road.

Against Lancashire there was no room for the likes of Rob Keogh, the injured Justin Broad, Stuart van der Merwe, Gus Miller, George Scrimshaw, Aadi Zharma, Raphy Weatherall, Liam Guthrie or Dom Leech among others.

And Zaib believes that extra strength across all units can only be a good thing for Northants.

"The squad is very strong," said the 27-year-old. "We have competition for places which we haven't had in a very long time.

"In the batting unit, you have a player like Stuart van der Merwe who scored a century in the last game of last season, and he might not even play.

"That shows the strength that we have, and we have Loius (Kimber) who has just come in who scored a sensational double hundred the other year, I just remember seeing the headlines about it.

"We have got Rob Keogh who has 20-odd first-class hundreds, and there is a lot of competition for places which is really exciting.

"Then our bowlers, I think that's the most impressive thing going into this year.

"They are fit, and hopefuly somebody like Sando can just stay on the park for us for as long as he can and win some games for us.

"I am really excited with our squad, and we even have Calvin (Harrison) back which is an amazing addition for us.

"He did really well last year, and he also adds to our T20 depth as well which was desperately needed."

Northants will be aiming to build on their battling draw against the Red Rose when they return to four-day action on Friday (April 10) against Kent at Canterbury.

Kent also played out a draw in their season opener at Durham.