Northamptonshire captain David Willey has urged his team to seize the moment and make a name for themselves as they face defending champions Somerset in their T20 Blast quarter-final.
The Steelbacks, however, will be without key players Ravi Bopara and Raphy Weatherall due to injuries. Additionally, an agreement with Cricket South Africa (CSA) to bring back batsman Matthew Breetzke, who played a crucial role in the group stage, could not be reached. Breetzke amassed 460 runs with a strike rate of nearly 154, helping Northants secure second place in the North Group and advance to the knockout rounds.
Reflecting on their challenges, Willey told BBC Radio Northampton, "We’re probably on Plan F by now, but I see that as exciting. We’ll stick to our formula and give the guys the freedom to play their natural game." The 34-year-old captain famously ended the 2013 final with a hat-trick, leading Northants to their first T20 Blast title, which they repeated in 2016.
Despite these triumphs, Thursday's match marks only their second quarter-final appearance since then, having lost by seven wickets to Gloucestershire in 2020’s modified competition. The reward for the winner is a spot at Edgbaston for Finals Day on 14 September.
Willey accentuated the importance of playing at home and acknowledged the obstacles they face. "Having a home quarter-final is huge for us. Yes, we’re dealing with injuries and missing our overseas player, but that makes it even more exciting," he remarked. He encouraged players who haven’t had many opportunities to rise to the occasion, calling it a perfect time to "put their name in lights."
Though Northants will have Australian spinner Ashton Agar available, the absence of veteran Bopara is a notable loss. Bopara, at 39, contributed significantly during the group stage, scoring 265 runs and taking 13 wickets.
Northants secured their spot in the quarter-finals after winning their final three group matches, though they haven’t played T20 cricket since 19 July. Willey reflected on the team’s journey, saying, "Early on, it was about figuring out our formula. We wanted to peak at the right time, and it’s worked perfectly."
He praised the team effort throughout the tournament, noting that contributions came from different players at crucial moments. "It hasn’t been about one or two players; everyone has stepped up when needed, and that’s the culture I wanted to build—a team-first mentality," Willey added.