County Championship Preview: Northamptonshire
Northants stayed up last year. Can they improve on this now?
Northants managed to survive in their first season back in Division One thanks to the Spin of Rob Keogh, the Seam of Ben Sanderson and the Runs of Luke Proctor. They have strengthened their All-Rounders with the return of David Willey from Yorkshire but not having Ryan Rickelton return as an Overseas will hurt their batting even more.
They have to be hoping that Ricardo Vasconcelos can return to form after he averaged only 25 last year. The Permanent signing of Lewis McManus from Hampshire after a loan last year adds some continuity but their Bowlers will have to do the heavy lifting again and Curtley-Jack White who took 37 at 23 will have to have another good year.
They have lost 4 players but they were all on the fringes or had bad seasons so there is no great loss in any of them. They have Sam Whiteman in as an Overseas player who has averaged 37 in First-Class Cricket and is a Wicketkeeper potentially freeing up Vasconcelos to just bat but if this will work is still up in the air.
They appear to be an Opener light with Will Young not being resigned as Overseas although they started the season with Vasconcelos there.
Predicted Line-Up:
Emilio Gay
Ricardo Vasconcelos
Luke Proctor
Rob Keogh
Josh Cobb
Saif Zaib
Sam Whiteman (WK)
Lewis McManus
Tom Taylor
Ben Sanderson
Curtley-Jack White
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