Darren Lehmann: Northamptonshire batters ‘on notice’, warns coach

Darren Lehmann has vowed to revamp Northamptonshire’s struggling County Championship side next season, saying his players “batted like drunks” on the final day of their defeat by Gloucestershire.

The head coach lambasted his side’s batting after they were rolled over for 192 in just 50.2 overs at Bristol, losing by seven wickets in a rain-affected match that had seemed to be heading for a draw.

“We batted like drunks,” the former Australia Test batter told BBC Radio Northampton. “We played like millionaires and didn’t respect the game enough. Blokes playing millionaire shots when they didn’t need to.

“They won’t be playing again if they do that – we’re pretty ruthless like that these days. Yes, we’re trying to give blokes a game and do the right thing where we possibly can, but I’m certainly finding out about a few, so they’re on notice.

“When we come back next year it’ll be a different championship side, that’s what will happen and they can’t complain.

“But we can get better and that’s what we need to do in the off-season. There’s a lot of work to do, which is great – it’s exciting if you’re a coach and it should be exciting if you’re a player.”

Northamptonshire have won just twice in the Championship since Lehmann succeeded John Sadler last winter and are likely to finish second from last in Division Two unless they beat champions Leicestershire, who visit Wantage Road in the final round of games next week.

“We’re second from bottom and that’s where we should be really,” Lehmann added. “I thought we bowled really well, we just had to bat for two hours, somewhere. But it’s not doom and gloom, it’s about getting better in the game.”