Sales still missing for Northants

David Sales has still yet to play for Northamptonshire since suffering knee damage training in December

David Sales remains out for Northamptonshire as they look to carry their promising early LV= County Championship form into their second match against promotion favourites Kent at Canterbury.

Sales, who suffered knee ligament damage in training in December, missed the opening Division Two draw with Leicestershire at Grace Road, and the Steelbacks’ seven-wicket Friends Provident Trophy defeat to holders Essex on Sunday.

The continued absence of Northants’ premier batsman will mean another outing in the middle-order for David Willey, who scored a promising 60 on first-class debut at Grace Road.

Northants head coach David Capel told ecb.co.uk: “We obviously want to make sure that David is fit and ready to go the first game he comes back.

"We don't want him to play one or two games and then there be another problem. When he gets back in we want it to be a permanent return.”

Capel retains the same 12-man squad on duty against Leicestershire, which means no place for Steven Crook despite his battling 72 against Essex.

Riki Wessels keeps wicket with Niall O’Brien set to travel back from Ireland’s victorious World Cup qualifying campaign in South Africa.

The final seam spot is set to be contested between David Wigley, who took 2-67 against Leicestershire, and Lee Daggett, who bowled six wicketless overs at Chelmsford.

Monty Panesar, available for all Northants matches ahead of the first npower Test on May 6, is retained in the side.

Despite losing an entire day to rain at Grace Road last week, Northants forced Leicestershire to follow on, and the hosts needed a 70-run stand between Boeta Dippenaar and Paul Nixon to help avert defeat.

Kent start the season under-strength and without leading fast bowlers Amjad Khan and Robbie Joseph.

Robbie Joseph's absence leaves Kent with a threadbare attack to face Northamptonshire in Canterbury

Khan is expected to face another fortnight on the sidelines with the knee injury he sustained during England’s one-day series against West Indies.

Joseph, who toured with England Lions during the winter, suffered a shoulder injury diving over the boundary rope playing for Kent in a warm-up match.

Kent professional cricket manager Simon Willis told ecb.co.uk: “Robbie sustained the injury 10 days ago, and we hope he will be back in another week’s time.”

Their absence means Steffan Jones, signed on loan from Somerset, makes his Kent debut against one of his former counties.

There is also a championship debut for Phil Edwards, who played in the pre-season friendly against Loughborough UCCE, but did not get a chance to bowl.

Batsman James Hockley will play his first championship match for almost seven years, having been released by Kent in 2002. Hockley, who has been re-signed following a successful season with Hartley CC, is preferred to England Under-19 batsman Sam Northeast.

Kolpak all-rounder Ryan McLaren is away playing for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.