Trent Bridge

Just 69 overs of play were possible in Northants' three-day friendly agaibst Oxford UCCE

Northants clash called off after 69 overs as rain ruins pre-season friendly

Northants will start the 2024 season with a Championship clash against Sussex at Hove (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

South coast opener for Northants as they start 2024 season at Sussex

Matt Kelly celebrates taking the wicket of Essex's Adam Wheater

Sadler praise for departing 'diamond' Matt Kelly

Northants Steelbacks head coach John Sadler

Frustration for Sadler as Steelbacks are denied victory chance by the weather

Matt Kelly claimed four wickets for the Steelbacks at Trent Bridge

Steelbacks left frustrated as rain cuts short Outlaws clash

Notts Outlaws will have former Steelbacks batter Ben Duckett in their line-up

Steelbacks on a high as they head to Nottingham for Outlaws test

Brett Hutton

Home is where the heart is for Hutton as he returns to Nottinghamshire

Northants Steelbacks celebrate claiming a wicket in their Vitality Blast T20 defeat at Notts Outlaws

IN PICTURES: Northants Steelbacks suffer T20 defeat to Notts Outlaws

David Ripley saw his Steelbacks side suffer defeat at Trent Bridge (picture: Kirsty Edmonds)

Ripley left to rue Steelbacks' below-par batting display at Outlaws

Luke Wood (left) has joined Northants on loan from Nottinghamshire

Northants snap up Nottinghamshire bowler on loan

Ben Duckett

Duckett thanks Northants, but believes he needs a '˜new challenge' at Nottingham...

Ben Duckett

Notts boss Newell believes Duckett can '˜reignite international ambitions' with ...

Ben Duckett has left Northants and signed for Nottinghamshire

BREAKING: Northants batsman Ben Duckett signs for Nottinghamshire

FRESH START - Brett Hutton has turned down a new deal at Nottinghamshire to sign for Northants

Newell '˜disappointed' as Hutton turns down new Notts deal to sign on at Northan...

Northants head coach David Ripley

Ripley '˜delighted' as Northants swoop to land Notts seamer Hutton

Richard Levi had a good day with the bat at Trent Bridge, but watched on as Notts reached the rate required for victory in reply (picture: Kirsty Edmonds)

Bittersweet for batsman Richard as Steelbacks suffer defeat to Outlaws

Richard Levi reflected on a bittersweet afternoon at Trent Bridge after the Steelbacks were beaten by Nottinghamshire Outlaws.

By The Newsroom

Ben Duckett made 28 for Northants (picture: Kirsty Edmonds)

Levi shines again but Steelbacks are beaten at Trent Bridge

David Ripley takes his Steelbacks side to Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire this weekend (picture: Kirsty Edmonds)

Steelbacks set for two big away games

Ben Duckett

Northants star Duckett ready to roar for Lions on home soil

Ben Duckett has been named in the England Lions squad (picture: Kirsty Edmonds)

Northants star Duckett set to represent Lions on home soil

SPRAY TO WIN! - Josh Cobb (left) joins in with the Steelbacks T20 title party (Pictures: Kirsty Edmonds)

T20 FINAL: Cobb hails '˜special' Steelbacks after Edgbaston victory

Rory Kleinveldt has been ruled out for six weeks (picture: Peter Short)

Northants set sights on new overseas player after big Kleinveldt injury blow

Ben Duckett hit a fine 98 for Northants (picture: Kirsty Edmonds)

'It all clicked' for Steelbacks in Lightning success

David Ripley was proud of his players (picture: Kirsty Edmonds)

Ripley so proud of Northants' Trent Bridge run chase

Alex Wakely wants a fast start in the Royal London One-Day Cup (picture: Peter Short)

Wakely wants Northants to show their Steel in 50-over competition

David Ripley (picture: Kirsty Edmonds)

Ripley remaining upbeat after Steelbacks’ defeat at Trent Bridge

David Willey (picture: Kirsty Edmonds)

Willey to miss Trent Bridge trip as Northants face anxious wait

David Ripley has confirmed David Willey will definitely miss Northants Steelbacks’ NatWest T20 Blast game at Nottinghamshire Outlaws on Saturday.

Tom Vickers

Northamptonshire head coach David Ripley

Duo get good time with the bat as County draw warm-up game

Graeme White could face his old club at the County Ground tonight

White in line to face former colleagues

Steelbacks head coach David Ripley cuts a dejected figure after his side's 31-run defeat to Worcestershire Rapids

Rapids victory puts Steelbacks on the edge of elimination

Kyle Coetzer's side are on the verge of elmination from the Natwest t20 Blast

Coetzer has faith in Foxes doing him a favour

Maurice Chambers made an early breakthrough when he dismissed Adam Lyth for a duck

County get their noses in front in opening skirmishes

Matt Spriegel fell in the final over of the day as Northants struggled in their second innings

Fourth straight defeat staring Northants in the face

Captain Stephen Peters was a disappointed man after the County's collapse at Trent Bridge

Significant improvement is a must for Peters

Rob Newton was the fifth wicket to fall as Northants were bowled out for 151

Ripley points a finger at the County’s batting troubles

David Murphy (left) and Andrew Hall both fell in the first over after tea on the final afternoon

Dreadful Northants hammered at the Bridge

Steven Crook bowled eight expensive overs on the third day at Trent Bridge

Same story, different day for coach Ripley

Muhammad Azharullah made the breakthrough for the County when he dismissed Alex Hales

Hosts assume control as County drop their chances

Stephen Peters was in fine touch after Northants had been put into bat at Trent Bridge

Advantage lost as the batting again fails to produce

Kyle Coetzer has been dropped for the game against Nottinghamshire

Ripley admits to tough call on Coetzer

Maurice Chambers is in line to replace Olly Stone when play gets under way at Trent Bridge

Rain ruins day one at Trent Bridge

Stephen Peters (right) takes his Northamptonshire side to Trent Bridge today

County to embark on ‘brutal’ period of the season

David Sales will have a scan on a calf injury

Sales the latest concern for Northants

David Ripley's side have seven days of cricket over the next fortnight as the next season approaches

Nottinghamshire up first as County get back into their routine

Northants four-day captain Stephen Peters

County finalise their preparations for the season

Head coach David Ripley believes Graeme White will add some variety to the Northants bowling stocks

White back where it started as spinner’s berth is locked up

Andrew Hall will replace the rested David Willey in tomorrow's YB40 clash with Holland

Hall back in the fold for Holland encounter

Steelbacks coach David Ripley

Ripley aware of Steelbacks’ shortcomings

Alex Wakely made 59 from number five for the Steelbacks

Steelbacks’ unbeaten run ended in crushing style

David Sales returns to the Steelbacks' squad for the trip to Trent Bridge

Crucial week for Steelbacks starts in Nottingham

Graeme White (left) has returned to Nottinghamshire after his loan spell with Northamptonshire was cut short

White loan spell is curtailed by Nottinghamshire