Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, weather forecast, form, prediction and everything else you need to know ahead of the latest round of the LV= Insurance County Championship...
Fixture: Northamptonshire v Lancashire
Venue: County Ground, Northampton
Dates: Thursday, May 20, 2021 - Sunday, May 23, 2021
Start time: 11am
What's the lowdown?
Lancashire are coming into the game following a week off after being defeated by the weather two weekends ago in Manchester against Glamorgan. They are currently treading on Yorkshire’s toes with only a five-point separating the local rivals.
Northamptonshire also have a game to makeup, their last outing being the thrashing of Sussex by an innings and 120 runs two weeks ago. They are currently sitting in fourth place between Sussex and Glamorgan with only five points separating the three teams.
Who's in form?
In a frustrating draw two weeks ago, positives came in the form of Lancashire’s Keaton Jennings and Josh Bohannon both hitting half-centuries before the weather intervened.
Northants paceman Ben Sanderson claimed a third 10-wicket haul of his first-class career to inspire victory over Sussex. Ricardo Vasconcelos has been in superb tough this term with 493 runs in eight innings, giving him an average of 70.43.
Last five first-class matches (most recent first)
Northamptonshire: WLWLD
Lancashire: DWWWD
Head-to-head first-class record
Total matches: 133
Northamptonshire wins: 18
Lancashire wins: 54
Draws: 61
Abandoned: 2
What's the team news?
Northamptonshire: Nathan Buck and Brandon Glover drop out of Northamptonshire's squad for the visit of Lancashire but the XI that beat Sussex remains.
Squad: Adam Rossington (c/wk), Gareth Berg, Ben Curran, Rob Keogh, Simon Kerrigan, Wayne Parnell, Luke Procter, Ben Sanderson, Tom Taylor, Charlie Thurston, Ricardo Vasconcelos, Saif Zaib
Lancashire: A 13-man unchanged Lancashire squad travels to Wantage Road. Luke Wells and Steven Croft both return after a short spell with the second XI. James Anderson is again in the line-up after making his return two weeks ago with three wickets against Glamorgan.
Squad: Dane Vilas (c), James Anderson, Tom Bailey, Josh Bohannon, Steven Croft, Alex Davies, Keaton Jennings, Danny Lamb, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Matt Parkinson, Luke Wells, Luke Wood.
Latest Northamptonshire news: Click here
Latest Lancashire news: Click here
Who's said what?
Ricardo Vasconcelos expects an uptick in Northamptonshire's performance when fans return to county cricket for the first time this season.
He said: "It has been completely different playing here without the supporters in, and it will give us a massive boost to see them.
"When there’s a crowd in, it does get you going in those times when things perhaps aren’t going your way and you will hear the odd shout of ‘get on with it!’.
"Or you might hear a little something else and you enjoy that, it gets you going again."
Though Lancashire have made a fast start in the new format of the County Championship, coach Glenn Chapple says his side cannot let up in pursuit of a top-two spot.
“A lot of the teams look strong this year, and they (Northamptonshire) are playing good cricket," he stated. "So it will be a real test.
“Where they are in the table makes it really clear that if we get a good result there it will put us in a fabulous position. It will be another big game, and one we are looking forward to.”
What's the weather forecast?
Northampton is looking wet and windy for the majority of the weekend. Light rain showers and a fresh breeze are predicted for all four days. Temperatures will reach no higher than 13 degrees Celsius and dropping to around seven in the evenings.
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Northampton: Click here
How do I follow the match?
TV/stream: Northamptonshire will offer live coverage of the match via their website: Click here
All County Championship matches are also available via the ECB's central hub: Click here
The matches can also be viewed on mobile via the ECB app.
Radio: BBC Local Radio and the BBC Sport website will carry ball-by-ball radio commentary of the game.
Digital: The Cricketer will carry live scorecards and daily updates from every County Championship match in 2021, as well as the latest breaking news from around the counties and exclusive features. Visit our County Hub for more.
Going to the game?
Tickets: Adults - £15, Juniors - £7
Travel
Address: The County Ground, Abington Ave, Northampton NN1 4PR
By Car
Take Junction 15 from the M1 Motorway onto the A508 (A45) towards Northampton.
Follow the dual carriageway for approximately 3 miles passing the Hilton Hotel, Marriott Hotel and Delapre Golf course on your left-hand side.
Keeping in the left-hand lane, take the next exit from the dual carriageway marked A428 Bedford and Town Centre.
Move into the middle lane as you approach the roundabout at the bottom of the slip road.
Take the second exit following signs for Abington / Kingsthorpe onto the Rushmere Road. Follow the Rushmere Road (A5095) across the junction with Billing Road and continue straight on through Abington Park to the traffic lights at the main junction with Wellingborough Road.
On Foot
ENTRANCE VIA ABINGTON AVENUE
Cross the lights at the junction with the Wellingborough Road keeping in the left-hand lane.
Turn left at the traffic light filter into Abington Avenue.
The cricket ground entrance is approximately 300 yards along Abington Avenue on the left-hand side.
ENTRANCE VIA WANTAGE ROAD
Turn left at the traffic lights with the Wellingborough Road onto the Wellingborough Road itself.
Take the first right approximately 100 yards along into Wantage Road.
The Cricket Club Entrance is approximately 500 yards along the Wantage Road on the right-hand side.
By Bus
Buses are available from Northampton Bus Station every 10 minutes. The best services are either 1 or 16 – both head towards Weston Favell.
The bus stop is located by the Abington Public House, 30 seconds from the Wantage Road gates. The bus journey takes roughly seven minutes.
By Train
Northampton Station sits on the halfway point of the London to Birmingham Line and enjoys frequent and speedy services to both cities.
Northampton Train Station is approximately a 30–40 minute walk from the County Ground.
Alternatively, there is a taxi rank outside the train station, the ground and is a five-minute drive.
Prediction?
Lancashire's top-two hopes rely on them maintaining their unbeaten run. Northants meanwhile will be looking to create daylight between themselves, Glamorgan and Sussex with a victory in this match up. But the inclement weather might have the final say. A draw.
OTHER ROUND SEVEN PREVIEWS
Group 1
Nottinghamshire v Worcestershire
Group 2
Group 3
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