Northants can put me back in red, says Buck

NATHAN Buck admits he will be bowling like a man possessed next season, after a move to Northants which he hopes will give him an opportunity in all formats.

The 25-year-old seamer was released a year early by Lancashire having only played five first-class matches in two years at the club.

He did fare slightly better with the white ball, playing six List A and eight T20 Blast matches.

“The opportunity with the red ball was pretty limited, and I spoke to Gilo (Ashley Giles) about it and we came to the agreement,” Buck said.

“I’m 26 next year and want to be playing as much as I can, and I felt Northants was a good place to play cricket.

“They play some exciting white-ball cricket and there is the opportunity to play in all forms, so I was very keen and I’m looking forward to playing consistently.”

Buck’s red-ball stats do not make particularly impressive reading – having taken 158 wickets since his 2009 debut at 38.52 – but Northants have reason to believe they may yet have a diamond in the rough, with the former Leicestershire bowler plagued by injuries in recent seasons.

He took 49 wickets in his first full campaign at Grace Road before being called up to the Lions squad, and if he stays fit Buck sees no reason why he cannot return to that sort of form.

He added:“My first year at Lancashire was a shocker, tearing my side twice – but I wouldn’t have done anything differently there.

“I was fit for 90 per cent of last year which put me in good stead. Playing in Australia last winter might have helped, and a few of the Northants bowlers and batsmen are looking to go out to South Africa after Christmas.

“There is the scope to go away so I’ll just see what happens. I just want to win as many matches as possible this season rather than set long-term goals – I like to keep things simple.”