Northants lose Kolpak pair

Johan van der Wath will be unable to fulfil his Northants contract in 2010 after failing to secure a work permit

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Northamptonshire’s playing staff has been depleted further following the news that two key Kolpak players will not be returning in 2010.

South African all-rounder Johan van der Wath and wicketkeeper-batsman Riki Wessels appear to have played their last games for Northants after the club admitted defeat in the battle to retain their services.

A tightening up of regulations on work permits means they no longer qualify as Kolpak players, a verdict confirmed by Northants chief executive Mark Tagg today following an unsuccessful appeal.

“We are obviously very disappointed that Johan, who has been with us since 2006, and Riki, who has been here even longer, since 2004, will be unable to see out their contracts,” said Tagg.

Van der Wath was Northants' most potent bowler last summer - he took 50 wickets at 24.74 in the LV= County Championship - while Wessels was their leading run-scorer in the Friends Provident Trophy and among their most reliable batsmen in four-day cricket.

Capel added: “Johan and Riki have made significant wholehearted contributions to Northants cricket and the English game during the past few seasons and given much to the club and its supporters.

“They will be missed by everyone associated with Northants cricket and I would like to offer my personal thanks to them both for all they have done.”

The double loss of van der Wath and Wessels takes the number of players to have left Northants since last season to eight.

Left-arm spinners Monty Panesar and Graeme White moved to Sussex and Nottinghamshire respectively, while Steven Crook, Ryan Cummins, Bud Bailey and Mark Nelson have been released.

Former Wantage Road favourite Mal Loye returns from Lancashire and off-spinner James Middlebrook has joined from Essex.

Northants have signed Paul Harrison as back-up to first-choice wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien, but they remain on the lookout for a seam bowler to help minimise the impact of van der Wath’s absence.

“It is necessary to look at all available options open to us, and if we can secure top class fast bowling expertise that we require to spearhead our attack, it is likely we will be entertaining those options,” said Capel.

“International and other playing commitments could complicate matters further and result in players spending shorter periods of time with us during the 2010 season.”