Eight years after his last appearance for the county, and ten years after an extraordinary individual display in the final earned the Steelbacks their first T20 title, Northamptonshire’s most decorated cricketer of the 21st century returns to Wantage Road.

David Willey’s player of the match performance in the 2013 final, striking an outrageous 60 from just 27 balls after being parachuted in to open the batting before taking a hat-trick to claim the final three wickets of Surrey’s innings, gave his home county their first trophy since 1992 and pushed the then 23-year-old into the global spotlight.

Though guiding the Steelbacks to a second appearance at Finals Day two years later by following figures of 3/27 with a stunning 40-ball century at Hove against Sussex in the quarter-final, there was to be no fairy tale ending to his first spell in Northamptonshire colours. Not even his Midas Touch could prevent defeat to Lancashire in the final. He would depart at the end of the summer, joining Yorkshire.

An England regular since, making over 100 appearances for his country, hot property on the T20 franchise circuit and captaining the White Rose in the Vitality Blast, his ability to swing the white ball with his sharp left-arm pace in the opening overs of an innings has become his strongest asset.

Despite the stardom, home for the 33-year-old always remained Wantage Road, and so it will be again until at least 2026 after signing a four-year deal ahead of the 2023 season.

The final words belong to Willey himself:

“Wantage Road is home. I grew up playing on the outfield, behind the stands and in the groundsman’s shed. When I think back to my first introduction to cricket, I think of Northants. Northants supported and nurtured me in my younger years and gave me the opportunities to achieve my childhood dreams. I always hoped at some stage in my career I would find my way back and I’m excited that time is now!”