Both these sides will be disappointed with their start to the season, Lancashire having been strong favourites to secure a promotion spot back to Division One, while the recruitment of Darren Lehmann as Northants’ new coach was seen as a sign of intent. However, neither team has yet to register a win and sit sixth and seventh in Division Two.
After playing out a close draw against Middlesex in the first round of matches, Lancashire have been on the back foot in their last three games, salvaging a draw on each occasion. Marcus Harris has come in for this summer’s County Championship and One-Day Cup competitions and currently leads the overall run scoring with 585 at 83.57. Josh Bohannon has 327 at 46.71, while Keaton Jennings is down on his normal returns with the bat, with 279 at 34.87.
The problem for Lancashire is that they are not taking enough wickets, their leading bowlers Tom Bailey and George Balderson having just eight each, at 35.50 and 41.62 respectively. James Anderson is yet to make an appearance for the Red Rose county, having suffered a calf injury pre season and a side strain to Tom Aspinwall meant that Hampshire’s John Turner was brought in on loan, although that has now ended. Saqib Mahmood has taken two wickets in two matches and will likely be rested this week, while West Indian overseas signing Anderson Philip has taken just two wickets at 84.50 and was left out for the last game.
These two sides met just four weeks ago at Old Trafford, and on that occasion Northants were dominant, having asked Lancashire to follow on. 155 from Bohannon in Lancashire’s second innings saw them to safety. The main wicket taker for Northants was Calvin Harrison with 11 in the game, the Nottinghamshire leg spinner having been brought in on loan. He was initially signed for two games, but that has been extended for another two, which will include this match, although he has gone wicketless since the Lancashire game.
Northants’ two losses have been the result of batting failures and only two of their batters have scored over 160 runs, Luke Procter with 281 at 46.83 and Saif Zaib with 268 at 44.66. They were unfortunate to lose Matthew Breetzke to the IPL and have not replaced him.
The bowling has been strengthened by the return of Ben Sanderson from injury, having missed the first three games, and the recruitment of Harry Conway, the Australian pace bowler being signed for four Championship games. The pair were responsible for 17 of the 20 Leicestershire wickets to fall in the last match, although it was not enough to avoid defeat.
Lancashire will start as slight favourites, but Northants will hope that a return to Wantage Road, having been on the road since week one, will bring about a change in fortune.
Key players
Ben Sanderson missed the first three games with a knee injury, but was straight back into the wickets with match figures of 9/134 against Leicestershire, in the process bringing up his 400th first-class wicket for Northants. He topped their Championship wicket taking last summer with 41 at 26.73 and his return to the side will certainly be a huge boost.
Last December Keaton Jennings signed a five year contract, keeping him at Old Trafford until the end of the 2029 season. The length of the contract reflects the importance he has to the Lancashire side, having been appointed captain prior to the 2023 season. He led their Championship run scoring last summer, passing the 1000 run mark, and while the last of his 17 Test appearances was back in 2019, he still has plenty to offer the county game.
Team news
Northamptonshire squad (from): Luke Procter (c), George Bartlett, Liam Guthrie, Rob Keogh, Dom Leach, Lewis McManus (wk), Gus Miller, James Sales, Ben Sanderson, George Scrimshaw, Ricardo Vasconcelos, Raphael Weatherall, Saif Zaib
Lancashire squad (probable): Keaton Jennings (c), Tom Bailey, George Balderson, George Bell, Josh Bohannon, Marcus Harris, Tom Hartley, Matty Hurst, Michael Jones, Saqib Mahmood, Anderson Phillip, Luke Wells, Will Williams
Weather and Conditions
The forecast is for continuing dry weather until the final day, when there might be some rain.
The only game played at the County Ground so far this season was in the first week and the bowlers were on top. With the dry weather that has been around, the expectation is for bowlers to have to work a bit harder for their wickets.
Date: 9th May 2025
Time: 11:00
Ground: County Ground, Northampton
