- Lehmann criticises ECB approach over lack of county cricket exposure
- England players feature less in County Championship raising concerns
- Domestic talent overlooked despite strong county performances
Northamptonshire head coach Darren Lehmann has criticised the ECB’s approach to player development, calling for stronger ties between the national side and the county game and warning that England players are not getting enough exposure in county cricket while selectors continue to overlook in form domestic talent.
Speaking after a difficult winter, the England cricket team drifted away from its traditional talent base. Now in his second season at Wantage Road, the former Australia international believes change may already be underway following England’s heavy 4-1 defeat in the The Ashes.
“I think you will see a really marked improvement in that regard from the ECB,” Lehmann told BBC Look East. His optimism follows recent conversations with managing director Rob Key and Test captain Ben Stokes, which point to a renewed effort to strengthen ties between the national setup and the counties.
Lehmann criticises ECB approach over county disconnect
Lehmann based his concerns on stark numbers. Of the England side that started the Ashes tour in Australia, only one player featured more than four times in the 2025 County Championship.
Openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley made just one and four appearances respectively for Nottinghamshire and Kent, while Ollie Pope played six matches for Surrey.
Elsewhere, Joe Root and Harry Brook each played once for Yorkshire in a five wicket defeat to Warwickshire. Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith featured in three matches for Surrey but did not keep wicket.
Among the bowlers, Gus Atkinson made four appearances for Surrey, Brydon Carse played once for Durham, while Jofra Archer bowled only 18 overs for Sussex. Mark Wood missed the season entirely as he continued his recovery from knee surgery.
For Lehmann, the issue remains clear. “The players don’t play enough county cricket. They should play more but that’s not my call,” he said.
County Championship 2026 begins as spotlight returns to domestic game
The 2026 County Championship gets under way on Friday 3 April, with county cricketers across the country returning to red ball action as the new season begins. The opening round of fixtures offers an early chance to assess form and momentum, while also giving players a platform to push for higher honours.
Supporters will track early matchups and emerging storylines closely, particularly after a busy winter of squad reshaping across the counties. You can explore the full County Championship fixtures for 2026 here, while a detailed look at all the confirmed county transfers this off season highlights how squads have evolved ahead of the new campaign.
County stars overlooked as selection questions grow
Lehmann also pointed to missed opportunities within the domestic game. Northamptonshire batter Saif Zaib topped the national run charts last season with 1,425 runs at an average just shy of 65, yet selectors overlooked him for the England Lions winter tour.
“There’s a lot of good county players that could have been on the tour if they’d probably seen and took notice of them a little bit more,” Lehmann said during his BBC Look East interview.
Lehmann criticises ECB approach but sees signs of change
Key has already acknowledged the need to strengthen links with the county circuit. Speaking on the BBC’s Test Match Special podcast, he outlined plans to introduce a new advisory structure to improve communication and selection insight.
“We are going to have a County Insight Group, run a process, try and pick a couple of people, coaches or directors of cricket, from the First and a couple from the Second Division and meet four or five times a year,” Key said.
He also defended the existing scouting system, insisting England rely on detailed analysis. “We have a whole scouting network of people across every single game. There’s about 10 of them that go into it, we go into analytics, every ball is tracked,” he explained.
Ashes lessons spark debate over preparation
England’s Ashes campaign ended in a 4-1 defeat and drew heavy criticism, not only for results but also for preparation. The schedule and focus came under scrutiny, particularly around a mid-series break in Queensland.
On the field, England’s top order struggled to make a consistent impact and exposed wider concerns about readiness. Zak Crawley scored 273 runs at an average of 27.30 across the series, while Ben Duckett managed just 202 runs at 20.20, as several players failed to make a meaningful impression in Australian conditions.
Lehmann, however, offered a measured view. “They’re all adults so they should know where they stand and look after themselves. And they are a lot more professional than we were in our day so I don’t subscribe that they carried on too much,” he said.
Instead, he argued England needed better preparation in Australian conditions, pointing to the value of more competitive cricket before the Tests began.
England look ahead to summer reset on home soil
Despite the setbacks, Lehmann expects England to respond strongly when international cricket returns. A home summer featuring a three-match Test series against the New Zealand cricket team from 4 June, followed by three more Tests against the Pakistan cricket team in August and September, offers an immediate chance to reset.
“They’ll play exciting cricket,” Lehmann said. “They’ll score quickly. The wickets will be flat. They’ll oscillate between the two styles.”
He expects England to adapt after their struggles in Australia. “They played too aggressive in Australia. The problem is when the wicket does anything,” he said, adding that a more flexible approach will prove key.
For Lehmann, the path back to success rests on a familiar foundation. A stronger connection to county cricket, he believes, can once again become England’s greatest strength.
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