Northamptonshire will play in Group 3 of the 2021 County Championship – here’s their team preview and fixtures list.
This preview first appeared in issue 42 of Wisden Cricket Monthly.
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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
