In need of Love

Likely double relegation means another round of staff changes at Northamptonshire. A settled team has been almost as unusual as a green Wantage Road wicket in recent years, and by the end of August Northants had used 22 players in the Championship.

Their coach, Kepler Wessels, has finally lost patience with some of the younger, home-grown players. "There will be a number of new faces at the club," he declared. One already confirmed for 2005 is the Australian Test batsman Martin Love, whose brief stay this season coincided with Northants's first Championship win.

The club expects Love to be available for the entire season - unlike Martin Van Jaarsveld, whose season this year was punctuated by return trips to South Africa. "Not having to chop and change overseas players will make a difference," says the captain David Sales. "We wanted someone next year who will be available and Love fitted into our team nicely."

But it is with the ball that Northamptonshire have struggled - in particular the failure of off-spinners Graeme Swann and Jason Brown to repeat last season's total of 98 Championship wickets. "Last year they ran riot and dominated batters," said Sales. "This year the wickets have not helped them so much and batsmen have gone after them. It was a bit of a shock, but they'll come back stronger."

Throughout the season the threat of docked points for pitches that turn too much, too early has loomed, which may force Wessels to change his tactics for next year. Expect a couple of quicks to join over the next few months.