Lehmann hopeful overseas signing McSweeney will make Northants debut against Lancashire

But the head coach admits a lot will depend on the 27-year-old’s trip from Australia to England going as planned.

McSweeney is currently on the other side of the world, captaining South Australia in the Sheffield Shield Final in Melbourne, with the match evenly poised going into the fifth and final day.

Hosts Victoria closed at 102 for five on Sunday morning UK time chasing 196 to win.

The match finishes on Monday, and then McAndrew will quickly turn his attention to getting himself to Northampton.

And Lehmann says the player is ‘desperate’ to get straight down to work at the County Ground.

“Nathan gets here on April 1,” confirmed Lehmann. “He wants to play against Lancashire, so if he is fine then he will play.

“If he has any doubt then we probably won’t risk him, but he is desperate to come over and play and have the full county experience.

“He will learn and play with the guys, and he is already on the WhatsApp group now and has fitted right in, so that’s no problem.

“It is really just about how he is, whether there are any delays or anything like that, and also the weather.

“If the weather’s not great, then we won’t risk him because it will give him an extra couple of days to acclimatise, but I just don’t know so we will play it by ear.”

Northants played the first day of their pre-season friendly against Cardiff UCCE at Wantage Road on Saturday.

Skippered by Saif Zaib, Northants won the toss on a bright but cold day and posted 282 for eight declared, with George Bartlett the standout performer, making an unbeaten 88 from 102 balls.

There were also contributions from Zaib (41), Rob Keogh (32), James Sales and Louis Kimber (31), with the students then reaching 34 for one at the close, the one wicket to fall being claimed by Dom Leech.

Play resumes on Sunday at 11am.