Northants skipper Procter could face spell on the sidelines after suffering finger injury

The 37-year-old suffered a finger injury while fielding in the first innings of the County's six-wicket defeat against Durham in the Rothesay County Championship Division Two at Chester-Le-Street on Saturday.

Procter was unable to bat in the Northants second innings, with Gus Miller deputising, and head coach Darren Lehmann has admitted the former Lancashire all-rounder could be struggling.

"We are waiting on the results of Luke Procter's finger injury, but that doesn't look too good," Lehmann told BBC Northampton in the wake of the loss at Durham.

"That could mean a bit of time on the sidelines, but hopefully it is not so bad."

As well as leading the red ball team, Procter was one of the players in Lehmann's thoughts to skipper the Steelbacks in the Metro Bank One Day Cup that starts at the end of next month.

But his injury looks to have put paid to any prospect of that happening and the head coach has confirmed he will instead turn to Australian import Nathan McSweeney.

"Nathan McSweeney is going to be our captain," confirmed Lehmann when asked who would lead the 50-over side. "He is fit, while Luke Procter is not fit.

"Nathan has led really well, and we saw him on Monday at Durham, he is a pretty astute captain and had a lot of success, so he will be captain."

McSweeney, who is just 27, is a double Sheffield Shield title winner as skipper of South Australia, guiding them to success in the past two years.

He has also captained South Australia to silverware in their One Day Cup competition, which is called The Dean Jones Trophy, for the first time in 13 years, and he also led Brisbane Heat to a Big Bash League title in 2024.

Meanwhile, Northants are hoping to have wicket-keeper Lewis McManus back in contention for Friday night's Vitality Blast clash with Essex at the cinch County Ground.

McManus has been out of action for three weeks after he suffered a broken toe, and although he travelled to Durham last week he wasn't risked for the game.

McManus is scheduled to play for the Northants IIs in a T20 match against Warwickshire Bears at the Edgbaston Community Sports Ground on Wednesday, and if he comes through that will be available for Friday.

That game will see the Steelbacks try to extend their winning run in the competition to seven out of seven.

Northants are four points clear at the top of the Central & West Group, while Essex are second in the South Group, with four wins and two defeats from their six matches.