Lancashire targeting first win at Northants.

Lancashire and Northants have struggled to find form this season in their return to Division One.

After a tough start to their return to Division One of the County Championship, Lancashire will be aiming to earn their first win of the season against Northamptonshire, the team which they achieved the double over last year.

Lancashire were fortunate to be saved by the infamous Manchester weather on two counts, with bad light earning them a draw in their most recent match against Warwickshire. 

Luckless Northants have had possibly the hardest start to the season, with a number of key players and overseas targets suffering long-term injuries, including Alex Wakely and Australian fast-bowler Jackson Bird.

Like Lancashire, the hosts have managed one draw and one defeat so far this season, with Northants above the Red Rose county by just one point in the Division One table. 

The void between the two divisions seems to be putting last seasons Division Two representatives to the test and the value of this match will be high and both teams will see as an important fixture in their Championship calendar. 

Lancashire have been bowled out for less than 200 on two occasions this season and Northamptonshire's innings defeat to Yorkshire saw them bowled out for 94 in their first innings and so this match will provide each side with an opportunity to find some much needed form with the bat.

The visitors come into their third match of the season without Peter Moores after completing his final game in charge on Wednesday and club captain, Glen Chapple, will take charge in the meantime. 

Another key figure absent from this tie is Simon Katich, who scored a double century in Lancashire's last visit to Northampton, but left-arm spinner, Simon Kerrigan is expected to play and he also enjoyed his last visit to this ground, claiming 7-63 in Northamptonshire's second innings. 

Horton's runs saved Lancashire in
 their previous match.

Key Players:

Lancashire are in desperate need of stability with the bat and with that in mind one man sticks out like a sore thumb. Paul Horton made 83 and 84 in the previous match, playing two professional innings against a tough bowling line-up, whilst many other batsmen either threw away their wicket or failed to provide any long-term support. 

There is plenty of depth in Lancashire's bowling attack and a number of options when it comes to selecting their final team from the 14-man squad, but the batting, as feared, is not as sturdy without Katich this season and is yet to utterly convince, with one batting collapse after another.



Andrew Hall has been a vital presence at Northants for a long time now and enters into his seventh season with the club, in what is already proving to be a testing campaign. His ability to be three dimensional and make an impact on the match, compounded with his vast experience of the county game, means that he will be one to look out for.

In his previous match against Yorkshire he claimed 4-103, but like most of his players proved underwhelming with the bat and this has to change if they are going to make a serious crack at life back in the first division. 

Teams:

Croft made 197 this week and
is in with a chance of playing.

Lancashire are still without seam bowler, Kyle Hogg, due to a calf injury but are well represented in the bowling department and have a tough choice to make tomorrow morning, with White, Ali and Jarvis all in contention.

After a spell away from the first XI, Steven Croft is included in the provisional squad, making 197 for the second XI against Yorkshire this week. With a lack of top-order runs from a number of players, he may make a return and this selection will also be tough for Chapple and Gary Yates, with Agathangelou and Procter both at risk.

Lancashire team: Glen Chapple (captain), Andrea Agathangelou, James Anderson, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Steven Croft, Paul Horton, Kyle Jarvis, Kabir Ali, Simon Kerrigan, Ashwell Prince, Luke Procter, Luis Reece, Tom Smith, Wayne White.

With more injury problems than most teams this season, Northants come into this fixture with a weakened side, particularly in the batten department and captain Peters will be important at the top of the order.

Northants team: Stephen Peters (captain), Muhammad Azharullah, Maurice Chambers, Kyle Coetzer, Steven Crook, Andrew Hall, James Middlebrook, David Murphy (wicketkeeper), Rob Newton, Matthew Spriegel, Olly Stone, David Willey.