Head coach Lehmann delighted with shape of Northants squad after winter of work
Darren Lehmann has declared himself 'extremely pleased' with with the work the Northants players have undertaken over the winter months, and believes the squad is in good shape heading into the 2026 season.
The head coach returned to the UK last month, having spent the winter working as a commentator for ABC in his native Australia, covering England's Ashes hammering as well as the Big Bash League.
While Lehmann was away, the home-based players were hard at work from November onwards, working under the watchful eyes of coaches Glenn Chapple, Greg Smith and Graeme White.
Each player was given specific to instructions about the areas of their game they needed to improve on, and after his return to Northampton, the head coach is pleased with what he has seen.
Asked about the squad, Lehmann told Steelbacks TV: "I am extremely pleased, one with the shape they are in, and two the skill level that we asked for over the winter.
"Each individual had to improve in certain areas, and from what I have seen since I have been back they have done that, so I am very pleased as a coach.
"Sometimes you can come back to a side when you've been away and they haven't achieved or done the things you really wanted them to do, but hats off to each and every player.
"They have come back in great shape, and from what I've seen the way I want them to play individually and collectively has been excellent."
Lehmann was also keen to praise the work of the backroom team and his trio of coaches, who he regularly kept in touch with over the winter.
"All the guys behind the scenes deserved a lot of credit for how the boys have shaped up," said the 56-year-old. "With our skills coaches we are pretty lucky with Greg Smith, Graeme White and Glenn Chapple.
"They have driven the skills part and have done everything I asked them to do, and some. Hats off to them, and to the players for putting in the hours to actually get to the next level.
"Our next level has to be as high as we can dream, and we are also trying to gain promotion and all those things that come into being a Northamptonshire cricketer."
Lehmann this week flew out to South Africa with the rest of the Northants squad to undertake some warm weather training.
Half of the squad flew out to Western Province last week, with the other half joining them on Tuesday.
Northants play their only pre-season match on March 28 when they start a three-day game against Cardiff UCCE at the County Ground.
The new County Championship season starts on Friday, April 3, when Jimmy Anderson's Lancashire visit Wantage Road.