Wessels shock hits Northants

Kepler Wessels © Getty Images

Action on the Wantage Road pitch was overshadowed by events off it as Northamptonshire director of cricket Kepler Wessels left the club by mutual consent.

The former South African left-hander leaves Northants bottom of the Liverpool Victoria County Championship, having already finished bottom of the Northern Conference of the C&G Trophy.

Wessels played 24 tests for Australia before going on to captain South Africa - and the present gloom provides a stark contrast to the cracking start he made when he first arrived at the county.

In his first season the 48-year-old got Northants promoted to Division One of the County Championship and into the National Cricket League.

Northamptonshire have only picked up two County Championship wins so far this season - fellow strugglers Glamorgan and Somerset the victims.

And they look unlikely to add to their scalps in their match against an Essex side who are flying high in Division Two.

Despite posting a mammoth first innings total of 660, the failure to take quick wickets has hit Northants hard and the match looks like heading towards a draw.

The home side’s efforts were not helped when vandals damaged the covers during the night, causing water to seep on to the wicket to ensure the start was delayed by an hour and a quarter.

When Essex finally resumed play on 113 for three, the Northants attack toiled without any joy in the morning session against dangermen Ronnie Irani and Andy Flower.

Ben Phillips finally made the breakthrough 10 minutes after lunch when he had Irani caught by Bilal Shafayat for a quickfire 41 off 60 deliveries, having plundered six fours and a six.

Flower was joined in the middle by all-rounder James Middlebrook and it was not long before Middlebrook witnessed the Zimbabwean complete his century.

It came in the 75th over when he pulled right-armer David Wigley through deep third man for the runs he needed to bring up three figures.

Things took a turn for the better for Wigley though when he trapped Middlebrook plum lbw for 45.

James Foster steadied the Essex ship with a patient 60 but as the day’s play drew to a close he experienced a rush of blood to the head, slogging Jason Brown into the grateful hands of Usman Afzaal at long on.

Flower remained unbeaten on 165 not out to leave Essex 278 behind on first innings with time running out – but the day will be remembered for Wessels’ departure.