Northants pick up the win over Middlesex, but should their batting collapses cause worry?

Having been on both sides of seven-wicket wins to the Campaign, winning at home to Middlesex to bounce back from a defeat against Kent, Northamptonshire’s batting yet to pick up a single bonus point and has flattered to deceive during three of the opening four innings of the 2023 County Championship season.

Given the inclement cricketing weather rolling around the British Isles over the last fortnight, a little slack can be given.

Much of the hopes and dreams will depend on the county’s ability to secure the extra points as there has been a lowering of the total earned for draws, dropping from eight to five.

The parameters to begin scoring batting bonus points has raised also by 50 runs to 250.

Despite bringing in the experience and quality of Australians Sam Whiteman and Chris Tremain, old habits tend to die hard as it took less than 200 deliveries to see the innings completed in their opening salvo against Kent, at Canterbury.

Having been stuck on the wrong-end of the conditions; batting in gloom and then bowling in the Spring sunshine, combined with the wicket dying on Easter Sunday, it was to no surprise that the Spitfires did not need long to wrap up the victory.

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Whiteman, having skippered Western Australia to the Sheffield Shield title under two weeks ago, failed to carry on the success.

Having scores of one, 12 and 13, from the first three knocks has not set the hearts racing for the members at Wantage Road.

An unbeaten 60 will have seen some of the butterflies disappear as he led the chase of 119 expertly to sink Middlesex.

It may take a period of acclimatisation for the 31-year-old to find his feet against the hooping deliveries under the chilly, watery sunshine compared to the sunbathed 30 degrees of Perth.

Should the left-hander harbour any ambitions of joining the Australian touring party for the Ashes, beginning in less than ten weeks’ time, he will need to start troubling the scorers frequently and letting his weight of runs do the talking.

Chris Tremain, also 31, has tasted international cricket before when he played four ODIs, however, his spell at Wantage Road appears to be more of a stopgap before the arrival of another Australian seamer.

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The explosive Lance Morris is the latest newcomer to the long line of fast bowlers at Test coach Andrew McDonald’s disposal and arrives for the three games, the fourth, fifth and sixth of the campaign.

On his debut against Kent, Tremain was consistent in bowling steady line and length, just what an attack lacking the expertise of Ben Sanderson needed.

Having seen their leader of the attack and last year’s top wicket taker (41 wkts @ 28.39) having to miss out due to fatigue, Tremain picked up the reigns taking seven wickets including the scalps of Daniel Bell-Dummond and former England international Joe Denly.

In his second match of his trio at home to Middlesex, the New South Wales seamer claimed six scalps, including snaffling Tom Helm in a gravity-defying caught-and-bowled.

Having 13 wickets under his belt sees him sit joint second in the County Championship standings, only trailing Mohammad Abbas’ 15, has set the tone for the rest of the attack to follow for the matches ahead, starting with Hampshire on Thursday.

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It is worth remembering that a side consists of more than two players. Under new stewardship of Luke Procter, the Lancastrian has seen his side choose to go slightly against the grain, rejecting the “BazBall” style implemented under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, but a more measured approached based around building a steady foundation to the top of their order.

Having recruited former Running Foxes opener Hassan Azad, following his release from Leicestershire over the winter on a short-term contract as cover for the injured Emilio Gay, has scored at a steady strike rate of 34.38 per 100 balls- not something that will see his mobile number ringing off the hook from the national selectors.

Whilst Azad may be more of an archaic, throwback opening batter, his companion at the top Ricardo Vasconcelos is much more attacking, hitting the first ball of the season for four through the covers.

The minuscule batter however has reigned in his attacking intentions slightly to follow the directive his Captain wishes to follow.

Come the switch in the later months of the season to white-ball cricket, the left-hander will be hoping to see his talents flourish after last campaign’s disappointment given a broken hand curtailed his opportunities to play.

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The batting may have faltered in the opening two matches and yet to score a single batting bonus point, whereas it has proved fruitful for Rob Keogh.

Having amassed 194 runs, twice running out of partners on 116 and 75, he has more than repaid his new skipper’s faith to keep him in the playing XI, given the pre-season speculation that either himself or Saif Zaib would depart the squad for a returning Josh Cobb.

It has been Zaib who has been sat aside, something that Head Coach John Sadler and captain Procter will be more than chuffed with.

Cobb, however, has gotten off to a desperate start, scoring just 23 from his three knocks.

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For all the batting woes, the bowling unit made hay at home to Middlesex, skittling the visiting county twice inside 120 overs, setting up the run-chase and allowing their batters to take a breath instead of sweating over a potentially nervy fourth innings.

The seam quartet of Sanderson, Tremain, Jack White and Gareth Berg consists of nagging accuracy, yet similarity.

An attack of right-arm-medium, it is relying on their dogged, unwavering commitment to staying inside that area the batters loath.

In Berg, the Benjamin Button of county cricket, the Steelbacks can count on years of experience and a purely red-ball focussed mindset.

Knowing you can rely on the 42-year-old’s miserly control for 14 matches in the season is a blessing that not every county can call upon whilst alternating the remainder of the attack to avoid fatigue and wear-and-tear as white and red-ball begin to share the schedule.

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With the addition of Morris for the following three will add some much-needed pace to a familiar attack, but he may not be the only change.

Simon Kerrigan, who famously only played his one-and-only ill-fated Test against Australia where Shane Watson pummelled him all over South Kensington, has found a second home in Northamptonshire and is enjoying a superb renaissance to his career.

On a wicket that is notorious for offering a little assistance to the turning ball, Kerrigan has become a pivotal asset in the arsenal Procter can utilise.

Following on from his 2022 season, taking 10 wickets and holding the opposition to a rather economical 3.36 runs an over, he will be hoping to build on those statistics and keep the progression growing.

As any team will say, no matter the sport, the aim will always be the next match.

Beginning on Thursday, Wantage Road will host visiting Hampshire, who themselves have one win and one loss from their opening two matches.

If Northants are to continue their winning streak, the first innings batting will have to come to the party.