Two sides that enjoyed their first wins of the season last week meet in Cardiff, and while Leicestershire are looking strong at the top of the table, there is little to choose between the other seven teams in Division Two, and they will all feel that promotion is within their compass.
Northamptonshire had the better of their encounters with Glamorgan last season, scoring 605/6 declared at the County Ground, thanks to a double century from Karun Nair and centuries from Ricardo Vasconselos and Saif Zaib. Eventually they were denied the win by the weather, while in Cardiff, Glamorgan had to hold on eight down, having taken on a stiff chase of 262 from 39 overs.
Calvin Harrison leads Northants’ wicket taking with 15 at 19.40, all the wickets taken in the two matches played against Lancashire. The Nottinghamshire leg spinner originally came in on a two match loan, which was then extended and we wait to see if he will be sticking around any longer. Australian Harry Conway also looks to have been an excellent signing, coming in for four Championship games, and has already taken 13 wickets in two matches. The attack was also bolstered by the return of Ben Sanderson against Leicestershire, a game in which he took nine wickets.
The Northants batting looks vulnerable, and numbers two to six were all dismissed for single figure scores in the first innings against Lancashire in the last game. In the end they were dependent on Sanderson’s 65 in the second innings to be able to set a defendable total.
Glamorgan have a strong batting line up, and it was two 21-year-olds who led the way in the last game against Kent. They have struggled to find opening batters, but Jersey-born Asa Tribe, has taken on the role with some success in the last two matches, scoring 159 runs at 53.00. Ben Kellaway has passed 50 in each of the last three games, contributing 181 not out against Kent. Colin Ingram has continued from where he left off last summer, with 451 runs at 56.37, but he will be rested this week, as Marnus Labuschagne comes in for two matches, as preparation for the World Test Championship final.
It is in the bowling department where Glamorgan have struggled, but their overseas signing, Asitha Fernando was more productive last week, taking six wickets. Timm van der Gugten also chipped in with six, but bowling sides out twice in Cardiff, on pitches that tend to flatten out as the game progresses, is notoriously difficult.
The inconsistency of both these sides means that any result is possible.
Key players:
If the Glamorgan team ever needs a boost of energy, they never need look any further than Kiran Carlson. He is a live wire in the field, and has worked to temper his naturally free flowing batting, with a little more restraint at the crease. He made 923 runs in the Championship last season at 40.13, having topped a thousand in 2023. This year he has 320 at 35.55 and will be keen to build some bigger innings.
The Northants batting has been in and out, but Saif Zaib has added some solidity down the order, coming in at six. He leads their run scoring with 318 at 39.75, including two centuries, as well as an important 50 in the last match. He scored 399 runs at 36.27 in his eight Championship matches last season, and can bowl some useful slow left arm orthodox spin.
Team News:
Glamorgan have a mostly fit squad, the only absentee being Dan Douthwaite. With Kellaway bowling well, it seems unlikely Mason Crane will come back unless the groundsman produces a very dry pitch.
Glamorgan squad (from): Sam Northeast (c), Eddie Byrom, Kiran Carlson, Chris Cooke (wk), Mason Crane, Asitha Fernando, Andrew Gorvin, James Harris, Ben Kellaway, Jamie McIlroy, Marnus Labuschagne, Ned Leonard, Billy Root, Will Smale, Asa Tribe, Zain ul-Hassan, Timm van der Gugten
With Gus Miller, George Scrimshaw and Dom Leach all playing second team cricket this week, it is likely the Northants team will be unchanged.
Northamptonshire squad (probable): Luke Procter (c), George Bartlett, Justin Broad, Harry Conway, Liam Guthrie, Calvin Harrison, Rob Keogh, Lewis McManus (wk), James Sales, Ben Sanderson, Ricardo Vasconcelos, Raphael Weatherall, Saif Zaib
Weather and Conditions
Dry sunny weather, with temperatures in the low 20’s should be the order of the day.
Sophia Gardens has a reputation for slow and low tracks, with any assistance for the bowlers likely to be early on. The heavy roller then just flattens it out.
Date: 16th May 2025
Time: 11:00
Ground: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
