Ripley embarrassed by dreadful County display
The Northamptonshire head coach watched on as his side were bowled out twice in a matter of hours on their way to an eighth innings defeat of the season.
Chris Rushworth produced an excellent display of bowling to take 9-52 and 6-43 as Northamptonshire were dismissed for 83 and 90.
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Hide AdBut Ripley was in no mood to dodge any flak as he reflected on a dreadful - and all-too-brief - showing at Chester-le-Street.
“It was verging on embarrassing in many respects,” he admitted.
“He (Rushworth) bowled exceptionally and skilfully and looked like taking a wicket every over – which he more or less did.
“We had no answers to him and we must not take anything away from him for a superb performance.
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Hide Ad“But we are more than disappointed with the way we have played.
“We came up short. We are lacking confidence and we lacked skill.
“There was a sort of end-of-seasonitis about us - but that cannot be used as an excuse.
“We were outplayed on both days and that is very difficult to take.
“The lads are all hurting.
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Hide Ad“There is no way that was a 390 wicket which suggests we didn’t bowl well enough on the first day.
“And there is no excuse for what happened today which, as I said, it really is verging on embarrassing.”