Tour matches at Northampton have often brought a few surprises for international opposition and Northamptonshire will hope to ruffle a few feathers again this week as Pakistan come to Wantage Road ahead of their Test series against Ireland and England.

The Australians famously faced Frank Tyson as the Typhoon began to turn in 1953 and the modern Aussies also faced a tearaway quick at the start of his career in 2015 when Richard Gleeson first made his mark on the first-class game.

Pakistan themselves were beaten back in 1971 – when Mushtaq Mohammad played against his country, nine years after being in the opposite dressing room at Wantage Road.

Gareth Wade, a fast bowler from Northumberland, could become the latest to announce himself in a tour match. After making his first-class debut against Loughborough MCCU in April 2017, a stress fracture ruled him out of the rest of last season, but Northants have seen enough potential to offer him another opportunity this summer.

Nathan Buck, who is recovering from an ankle injury suffered on a pre-season training camp in Spain, could also make his return in a fixture full of opportunity.

“It’s really exciting to have an international team come to Northampton,” said Northants allrounder Steven Crook. “These guys are in top form too so it’s going to be a real test for us but also a great opportunity for someone to stick their hand up and put their name in lights.

“Sometimes you come up against touring sides in the middle of a series when maybe they’re trying to have a breather but this game is before the start of the series so they’re going to be up for it.”

After rain ruined their pre-season plans after returning from a tour of Barbados, Northants' season began with a shootout on a very green pitch at Middlesex before a heavy defeat to Warwickshire. With last week’s Specsavers County Championship match against Durham entirely abandoned, they are making up for lost time.

“We haven’t had a lot of cricket because of the weather so we’ll be fielding a strong team,” said Crook. “Hopefully some of the guys can get stuck in, it’s a great chance to say I’m here for the rest of the season.

“It’s happened many times before when a performance against a touring side can push you forward to higher honours. For someone like Ben Duckett it’s another chance to show what he can do again against an international attack who will be fresh and gearing up for Test matches to come.”