Coach Ripley excited by Steelbacks' batting power following Stirling capture

Paul Stirling goes for another big hit during his innings of 142 for Ireland against England earlier this month

Ahead of the suspension of sport due to the Covid-19 pandemic, former Middlesex man Stirling was originally signed by Northants for a four-match stint in the Blast, playing the games that West Indies star Kieron Pollard could not.

Coronavirus put paid to the planned T20 competition, and saw the cancellation of the contracts of Pollard and Paskistan all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, but it didn’t see the end of Stirling signing on at the County Ground.

Indeed, he has now agreed a deal to play in all 10 matches of the rearranged competition, which starts next Thursday when the Steelbacks travel to Bristol to take on Gloucestershire, as well as the finals day in the first weekend in October if Northants get that far.

“Paul was signed up for the original competition, so although the contracts were kind of falling off, his wasn’t,” said Ripley.

“We were talking about seeing what happened and whether we could extend his contract if we got the opportunity, and obviously we got that opportunity and we are delighted.”

The announcement that Stirling would be available for the whole Blast came in the days following his stunning innings of 142 from 128 balls in Ireland’s one-day international win over England at Southampton earlier this month.

It was a brilliant innings that outlined the qualities of the free-scoring opener, but Ripley was already well aware of exactly what the 29-year-old can bring to the Steelbacks party.

Paul Stirling was named man of the match as Ireland beat England in the third ODI between the countries earlier this month

Particularly for a Blast campaign that will see many counties unable to bring in top quality overseas imports.

“We signed Paul originally to fall in around Kieron Pollard so we know what a good player he is and what he can do to a T20 side at the top of the order,” said the Northants head coach, who guided the Steelbacks to T20 wins in 2013 and 2016, and the runners-up spot in 2015.

“He is also an excellent fielder and mover, and can also bowl a few overs as well.

“I know from Adam (Rossington, who played with Stirling at Middlesex) and people that know him well that he has a good appetite for the game, in terms of his cricket knowledge, so I am really excited about working with him.

Paul Stirling spent 10 years with Middlesex before leaving the county last year

“In a year where maybe there aren’t going to be as many overseas players as we would normally expect, for us to have one, and one of Paul’s quality, for the whole competition is a real boost for us.”

Stirling will also add extra firepower to what is already a potentially explosive T20 battling line-up, although his signing does mean Ripley will be altering his plans.

“I am a big fan of Adam Rossington at the top of the order, but we are now likely to move him down to four,” he said.

“So that top four of Stirling, Levi, Cobb and Rossington, with Alex Wakely batting at five, that has a good look to about it. I am really hoping that is going to be the cornerstone of a good competition for us.”