Lehmann calls for 'flying start' as Steelbacks gear up for Glamorgan opener in the Blast

McAndrew, a South Australia team-mate of Steelbacks batter Nathan McSweeney, has been left out of the squad for the trip to Northampton.

But the Welsh county are still set to have two overseas players in their ranks, in the shape of Afghanistan left-arm seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi and South African batter Colin Ingram.

Skippered by Kiran Carlson, Glamorgan will be heading to Wantage Road in the Blast for the first time since 2013, although the two sides did meet in the Covid-affected 2020 season.

The Steelbacks' 'home' game was part of a double header at Edgbaston, with Northants winning by four wickets, while Glamorgan were easy seven-wicket winners in Cardiff.

The County Ground has not been a happy hunting ground in T20 cricket for the Welsh county, with their most recent win coming way back in 2004!

In the five matches at Northants since then, the Steelbacks have won four, with the other a no result.

Glamorgan haven't reached Finals Day since 2017, and have never won the competition.

The Steelbacks, who were betaen in the semi-finals last season, have named a 14-man squad to take on Glamorgan, although that could rise to 15 should James Sales be released from England Lions duty.

Winter signings Louis Kimber and Calvin Harrison, as well as Australian batter McSweeney, are in line to make their Blast debuts for the club, while Chris Lynn returns for a third stint at Wantage Road.

Justin Broad is set to make his first appearance of the season, having missed the Championship campaign to date with a back issue, and the all-rounder is likely to play as a batter only.

Saif Zaib is ruled out after suffering concussion during the four-day clash with Gloucestershire last weekend.

Steelbacks head coach Darren Lehmann is looking forward to the tournament, which will this season see just 12 group matches played rather than 14.

"Glamorgan are a quality side, but everybody is quality in the Blast,” said Lehmann.

"You have to get on a run and we have to start well like we did last year.

"With two less games to play you have to get off to a bit of a flyer, so it is really important to start the competition well, especially at home.

"We want people coming to watch us play, and hopefully we can entertain them.

"Glamorgan are a new side for us to play, but on the other side of that they don't know he we play either."

Steelbacks squad: David Willey (c), George Bartlett, Justin Broad, Calvin Harrison, Louis Kimber, Chris Lynn, Lewis McManus, Nathan McSweeney, Gus Miller, Luke Procter, Ben Sanderson, George Scrimshaw, Ricardo Vasconcelos, Raphy Weatherall

Glamorgan squad: Kiran Carlson (c), Chris Cooke, Mason Crane, Sean Dickson, Dan Douthwaite, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Andy Gorvin, Alex Horton, Henry Hurle, Colin Ingram, Ben Kellaway, Ned Leonard, Will Smale, Timm Van Der Gugten