It’s a double dose of Joe and Mitch

Northants v Worcs

May 26-29, County Ground, Northampton, 11:00

WORCESTERSHIRE are the only club with a 100 per cent record in either division of the County Championship, and assistant coach Matt Mason has credited Joe Leach’s instant comfort as captain for the success.

The county have racked up three wins from three games in Division Two this term and will fancy their chances of making it four in a row as they travel to Northamptonshire today.

Leach, who is Division Two’s second leading wickettaker with 22 behind Kent’s Darren Stevens, took over the captaincy from Daryl Mitchell during the winter.

But Mason claims 33-yearold Mitchell has proven an invaluable sounding board for his successor.

“Joe is a great leader and has done very well,” explained Mason. “But he is lucky he has got Mitch alongside him and he has been fantastic after the disappointment of losing the role himself.

“He has thrown himself into helping Joe as much as he can, being a very senior professional around the group, and Joe needs that because without Mitch, we lose more experience.

“He has been very good at helping Joe adapt to his new role as captain.”

Northants have also started the red-ball campaign strongly, with two wins from three matches, and after inking a two-year contract extension to stay at Wantage Road until 2019, South African batsman Richard Levi is aiming big.

“I’ve had a great five years here, we’ve got a great bunch of guys in that changing room and they’re an absolute pleasure to play with,” he said. “I’m looking forward to continuing to build on our success.”