Skipper Wakely: County overseas player uncertainty is not all bad news

As things stand, Northamptonshire only have Australian seamer Jackson Bird registered, and not for the whole tournament, so the scope is there to bring in a second overseas recruit.

But the restructuring of the competition from a shortened block of games to a more elongated format has provided clubs with far more logistical difficulties such as the dearth of cricket surrounding the competition and the length of contract that would be necessary.

That could quite feasibly lead to the Steelbacks having to make do with just the one import but Wakely, who captains in the shorter forms of the game, is taking a laid back attitude to the situation.

He said: “It’s difficult for us because we’ve got quite a low budget.

“We’d like to get someone here but the practicalities of it, especially the fact there’s not much other cricket, aren’t ideal.

“If we had a choice then we’d love to get the two we had last year back, but it’s not as easy as that.

“For a club like this, a second overseas player would be desirable but not essential.”

And the last statement can be explained by the fact that Wakely feels both Cameron White and Richard Levi have left a legacy of sorts among their former colleagues.

He added: “They showed how to play Twenty20 cricket.

“If we don’t get someone in to replace either of them then it will be up to who is here to take on those roles.

“We will be a good side without them and if we can use what they showed then it will definitely help us.”