Northamptonshire will play in Group 3 of the 2021 County Championship – here’s their team preview and fixtures list.

County Championship 2021: Northamptonshire preview

Captain

Adam Rossington

Last year

4/6 Central Group

Player movements

In: Tom Taylor (Leics), Wayne Parnell (SA), Mohammad Nabi (Afg, T20)
Out: Brett Hutton (Notts), Blessing Muzarabani, Rob Newton, Tom Sole (all released)

Key player

Ben Sanderson – the veteran seamer’s record since joining Northants in 2015 is sensational – he’s averaged sub-20 in each of the last three seasons – and they will need him at his very best this summer if they are to reach the same heights as 2019.

Bolter

Emilio Gay – a classical left-handed opener who scored prolifically during his time at Bedford School, the alma mater of Alastair Cook, the 20-yearold has worked his way through the age-groups at Northants and registered his maiden half-century last summer, a match-clinching 77* against Glamorgan.

County Championship 2021: Northamptonshire Fixtures

Northamptonshire v Kent, Thursday, April 8, The County Ground

Lancashire v Northamptonshire, Thursday, April 15, Emirates Old Trafford

Northamptonshire v Glamorgan, Thursday, April 22, The County Ground

Yorkshire v Northamptonshire, Thursday, April 29, Emerald Headingley

Northamptonshire v Sussex, Thursday, May 6, The County Ground

Northamptonshire v Lancashire, Thursday, May 20, The County Ground

Sussex v Northamptonshire, Thursday, May 27, The 1st Central County Ground

Kent v Northamptonshire, Thursday, June 3, Canterbury

Northamptonshire v Yorkshire, Sunday, July 4, The County Ground

Glamorgan v Northamptonshire, Sunday, July 11, Sophia Gardens

You can check the full list of County Championship fixtures here.

Wisden says

A late-season winning streak led to promotion (or at least should have done) in 2019, and Adam Rossington has done sterling work since taking over the captaincy, but it’s hard to see them replicating that form with the loss of Brett Hutton and Blessing Muzarabani depleting their pace stocks. The late signing of South African left-armer Wayne Parnell is therefore particularly welcome. The latest chapter in the Simon Kerrigan story is worth keeping tabs on. After stepping aside from the professional game, the one-time England spinner signed a two-year deal last summer. His record (325 wickets and 13 five-wicket hauls) suggests he’s worth taking a chance on.

Prediction

4th in Division 3

This preview first appeared in issue 42 of Wisden Cricket Monthly.

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