Former skipper Rossington makes first return to Northants since shock departure

The wicket-keeper batsman, who had been captain since 2019, was scheduled to lead Northants into the 2022 campaign, but abruptly left the club just two weeks before the start of the season, with the club claiming contract talks had broken down.

He initially made a loan move to play for Essex, before agreeing a three-year deal with the Chelmsford club. He was capped by Essex last week.

Rossington was not able to play against Northants last season as per the conditions of his loan move, but he is set to come face to face with his former team-mates at the County Ground this week.

The 30-year-old has been named in a 14-man Essex squad that also includes former England captain Alastair Cook.

It has been widely reported that the left-handed batter is set to retire from professional cricket at the end of the fixture, but there has been no official confirmation from player or club.

Also set to feature at Northampton England batter Dan Lawrence, who is set to make his final Essex appearance before departing for Surrey.

The match will also see Tom Taylor play his final game for Northants before he switches allegiance to Worcestershire this winter.

Taylor has been named in an unchanged 13-man County squad, who will be playing for nothing more than pride following the confirmation of their relegation after the draw at Surrey on Friday.

Karun Nair, who has impressed with a century and half-century in his two innings to date, will make his home debut for Northants.

Essex arrive in Northampton still in with a mathematical chance of claiming the title, but to do so they need to claim maximum points and then hope Surrey lose at Hampshire, and claim four bonus points or less in the process.

Northants squad: Procter, Azad, Broad, Gay, Keogh, Kerrigan, McManus, Nair, Russell, Sanderson, Taylor, White, Zaib

Essex squad: Westley, Beard, Browne, A Cook, S Cook, Critchley, Harmer, Khushi, Lawrence, Pepper, Porter, Rossington, Walter, Yadav