Caps for Cousins and Brown

Northamptonshire have awarded county caps to off-spinner Jason Brown and paceman Darren Cousins, their two outstanding bowlers of the season.

The pair, who claimed 124 Championship wickets between them to help secure the Division Two title, received their caps from Cricket Committee chairman Roy Virgin at the club's annual presentation dinner.

Cousins also carried off Northamptonshire's Weetabix Player of the Year accolade, earning the judges' vote ahead of Brown and departing skipper Matthew Hayden.

All-rounder Tony Penberthy was named Player of the Month for August/September while the Frank Rudd Trophy, presented to the county's top young uncapped cricketer of the year, went to reserve wicketkeeper Toby Bailey.

Director of Cricket Bob Carter is due to fly to Kenya, where the ICC one-day tournament gets underway this week.

Carter is looking to sign a replacement overseas player for 2001 with Hayden, who has just completed his second summer at Wantage Road, expected to be in Australia's party for their tour of England.