By Simon Mann Test Match Special commentator

Northamptonshire have turned to hard man Kepler Wessels in an effort to arrest their decline.

Bob Carter was sacked as director of cricket after the team finished in the lower reaches of Division Two of both the championship and the Norwich Union League.

Mike Hussey is back to captain the side and score another a mountain of runs

Only Durham lost more championship matches last summer and Wessels, a former South African captain and tough, no frills batsman, faces a difficult task.

Northants will need big contributions from their two overseas men - Mike Hussey and Andre Nel - to prevent another mediocre season.

Several players have left the county including new ball bowler Darren Cousins, who underwent a foot operation after suffering an injury in a match last August.

On the plus side, the emergence of two young batsman at the end of last season - Mark Powell and Robert White - suggests there is talent to work with.

They shared a record first wicket stand of 375 against Gloucestershire last season, with White making 277.

The pair only played seven games between them last summer. Both should get a lot more opportunities this time.

Mal Loye's departure to Lancashire, however, is an obvious set-back. He never quite fulfilled his promise at Wantage Road but four hundreds last season and an average of 55.72 in 2001 show his value to the side.

David Sales is said to be as fit as he has ever been.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 2003 Coach: Kepler Wessels Captain: Mike Hussey Overseas players: Mike Hussey, Andre Nel Main players in: Mike Smethurst, Phil Jaques Players out: Mal Loye, Russell Warren, Mike Cawdron, Matt Cassar, Adrian Rollins

He did not play a championship match in 2001 because of a knee injury and failed to make any impact on his return last summer.

With Loye now gone from the middle-order, Sales' return to form and fitness is vital.

At least Hussey is back to captain the side and presumably score another a mountain of runs. His contribution in the last two seasons reveals how much Northants rely on him - 2,055 runs at 79.03 in 2001 followed by 1,379 at 72.57 in 2002.

The county's other emerging talent is slow left-armer Monty Panesar, who spent the winter with the England Academy.

To develop further, he needs to play more. In five matches in 2002, he took 15 wickets.

The pace-bowling attack has been supplemented by Nel, who could arrive earlier than expected after being sent home from the South Africa A tour to Australia.

He is now facing a disciplinary inquiry which could affect his chance of being called up for South Africa's tour of England.