BREAKING: Relieved Northants get all clear to resume Blast campaign after Covid-19 scare

The news will be a big relief for head coach David Ripley and his in-form team, who will now look to maintain their unbeaten start to the Central Group when they take on Gloucestershire at the County Ground on Friday (start 2.30pm).

There had been doubts about the club being allowed to fulfil the fixture after they hit the headlines last weekend when their Bob Willis Trophy fixture at Gloucestershire was abandoned due to a County player testing positive for coronavirus.

But after a week of Covid-19 testing of the players immediately affected and the rest of the squad and coaching staff, which have thankfully all come back negative, the club has been given the go-ahead by the England & Wales Cricket Board to resume their bid for a third T20 Blast title.

That said, the Steelbacks squad will be weakened, as none of the four players affected will be able to play in Friday's fixture, or Sunday's trip to Cardiff to take on Glamorgan. as they will be self isolating.

The club will not be naming any of the four players concerned.

A statement from nccc.co.uk read: "Northamptonshire County Cricket Club is pleased to confirm that Friday's Vitality Blast match between the Northamptonshire Steelbacks and Gloucestershire at The County Ground will go ahead as scheduled.

"Ensuring the health and safety of players, staff and officials has been the priority for the ECB and First-Class Counties since the Bob Willis Trophy match at Bristol was abandoned on Sunday due to a COVID-19 related issue.

"The club can now confirm the three players who came into contact with a team-mate, who tested positive for COVID-19 but was not part of the squad in Bristol, have since tested negative for COVID-19.

"Under Government and ECB guidelines these players are required to isolate until Tuesday, September 15, when they will be available for selection.

"The player who tested positive for COVID-19 will continue to self-isolate for the mandatory 10-day period from onset of symptoms.

"In addition, all members of the Steelbacks playing and coaching staff have also undergone COVID-19 testing, with no positive tests reported.

"Non-isolating players will return to training tomorrow ahead of Friday's match, including keeper-batsman Adam Rossington who re-joins the squad having overcome a finger injury that saw him miss the previous two fixtures.

"The ECB Board has confirmed a recommendation from an ECB Technical Committee regarding the abandoned Bob Willis Trophy match between Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire.

"Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire shall be awarded eight points each for a draw from the match, plus bonus points accrued before the abandonment."