Aussie import Trent Copeland is confident Northants will be serious contenders for promotion from LV= Championship Division Two this summer.
Copeland has only been in the country for a week, and only played one rain-affected match for his new club, but he says he saw enough in the County’s performance in the rain-affected draw at Glamorgan to suggest they will be contenders in 2013.
The rain frustrated Northants in Cardiff, with Saturday’s play being completely washed out.
That meant Copeland and his team-mates were unable to press home the advantage they had built up over the previous three days, with Glamorgan 96 for four in their second innings, still 62 adrift of Northants’ first innings score of 292 all out.
It was an encouraging start to the season for the County though, who only managed four Championship victories throughout 2012, and Copeland, in an interview with BBC Radio Northampton, believes the signs are good for a successful summer.
“The boys having had not such a great year last year have spoken about it and [for the bowlers] it’s about hunting in a pack and putting the opposition under combined pressure, not just under one end,” said Copeland.
“They’ve worked really hard in the winter on not only their on-field performances but the culture behind that, being that little bit more professional and being ready to go.
“Stephen Peters is obviously in very good form and James Middlebrook did a great job.
“We bat right down to number 11 - that’s encouraging - and the bowling attack, have worked well together.
“I can’t see why we can’t be pushing for that top spot.”
The Australian seam bowler also impressed, bowling 27 overs in the match and returning very economical figures of one for 42.
“I’m disappointed not to have taken more wickets but I’ll probably bowl worse and end up with better figures,” said the 27-year-old, who has three Australia Test caps to his name.
“It’s the Glenn McGrath mentality of putting enough balls in the right area and you’ll get one to go your way.”
“I’m not that 85-90mph bowler so I need to have line and length, the ball moving both ways, relying on consistent pressure and getting mistakes that way.”
Copeland will get his first taste of action at the County Ground this week, with Northants taking on Essex in a four-day championship game from Wednesday.
