Northamptonshire Steelbacks turn their attention to the Metro Bank One Day Cup as they welcome Warwickshire to the cinch County Ground tomorrow.
The side will be hoping to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 campaign but with a new captain and the Club fresh off T20 success, it could be a promising tournament.
Northamptonshire are in Group A this year with Gloucestershire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, Surrey and Warwickshire.
Matchday information:
Gates open at 10am, with play starting at 11am tomorrow. The end of innings interval is scheduled for around 2pm, but that is dependent on what happens in the first innings. Tickets are available on the gate or can be purchased here.
After the amazing T20 success at Finals Day on Saturday, the Vitality Blast trophy will be on display in our Hevey Suite after the close of play. Supporters will be able to see the trophy after the game and will have an opportunity for a picture as well.
Squad news:
With seven players selected in The Hundred, Northamptonshire’s side is set for some heavy rotation. Nathan McSweeney has been appointed One Day Cup captain, while Yuzi Chahal returns for the start of his third stint with the Club.
Academy player Shiv Krishna has been named in the squad after recently impressing for the 2XI.
There is a real mix of experience and youth within the Steelbacks squad, with senior members such as Rob Keogh, Luke Procter and Lewis McManus all within the 16-strong squad.
Steelbacks squad to face Warwickshire:
Nathan McSweeney (c), George Bartlett, Arush Buchake, Yuzi Chahal, Liam Guthrie, Rob Keogh, Shiv Krishna, Tiaan Louw, Lewis McManus (wk), Gus Miller, Luke Procter, Nirvan Ramesh, Aadi Sharma, Stuart van der Merwe, Ricardo Vasconcelos, Raphy Weatherall
We spoke to Head Coach Darren Lehmann about different players getting a chance throughout the competition, Nathan McSweeney captaining the side and welcoming back Yuzi Chahal.
Opponent preview:
Warwickshire
Previewed by Brian Halford – ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
Captain: Sam Hain
2025 Position: 4th (Group B)
2025 Most Runs: Ed Barnard (358)
2025 Most Wickets: Tazeem Ali (18)
Why they can win the competition: Warwickshire Second XI recently retained the T20 Cup fuelled by the talents of many players who will figure in their 50-over campaign. They are confident and in form.
Player to watch: Kai Smith – the dynamic young wicketkeeper-batter has been unlucky to be overlooked for much of the red-ball and T20 campaigns. A strong 50-over comp would make him very hard to overlook when the Championship resumes.
Young gun: Staffordshire product Theo Wylie, a left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder, is an impact player with bat and ball who appears ready to make an impact in first-team cricket.
Final thought: It has turned into a strange, polarised season for the Bears. A disastrous start to the Blast destroyed their qualification hopes very early but they are in the thick of the Rothesay County Championship title race and a strong 50-over campaign would set up an exciting end to the season at Edgbaston.