After suffering a record 220 run defeat to Surrey on Monday evening, Northants will look to bounce back quickly as they host a Leicestershire side on Wednesday who have yet to get their campaign underway following a washout on Sunday.
While Northants have avoided the weather playing on Saturday and Monday, they may wish some had arrived at the Oval, where they were smashed around by Jason Roy and co, conceding 343 and could only make 123 in reply, bowled out in 24 overs.
Having lost their opening two games following defeat to Durham in the opener, the Steelbacks know they can ill afford a third loss if they are to challenge for the quarter finals in an eight game group stage that leaves little time for the recovery they showed in the t20.
Leicestershire meanwhile will look to start their competition on a high note and put behind the disappointment of a t20 campaign that started brightly but tailed off in the second half, the Foxes out of contention before the final week of games.
Key Men
The only bright spot from an awful Northants batting display at the Oval was Ben Duckett, who hit his second successive fifty in the competition. The 20-year-old has been in exceptional form in all forms in recent weeks, and is likely to be given a chance further up the order, having batted at seven in the opening two games.
Leicestershire announced on Tuesday that Clint McKay had signed a contract for the next two years as their overseas player, and the experienced Australian will be looking to celebrate with a positive performance on Wednesday, using his international experience to boost an otherwise youthful attack.
Team News
Northants have made just the one change to their squad following the opening two defeats, with Richard Levi being rested for Wednesday, replaced in the 12 man squad by Saif Zaib, the highly rated 17-year-old who could make his senior debut, while Olly Stone is the other option to come in.
Northants Squad: Alex Wakely (c), Mohammed Azharullah, Josh Cobb, Steven Crook, Ben Duckett, Rob Keogh, Rory Kleinveldt, Adam Rossington, David Willey, Graeme White, Olly Stone, Saif Zaib.
Leicesteshire were set to give a debut to Michael Burgess on Sunday after the wicketkeeper batsman signed a contract until the end of the season, so the 21-year-old’s chance could come at Wantage Road instead.
Leicestershire Squad: TBC
Weather and conditions
The rain of the last few days is set to clear by Wednesday with a dry day forecast for Northampton, with sun battling with cloud throughout the evening, and temperatures set to remain in the late teens.
The opening game at Wantage Road saw Durham post 315, continuing the trend of good batting surfaces in white ball cricket at the ground this season.
Date: 28th July 2015
Time: 2:00pm
Venue: Wantage Road
Umpires: Steve Garratt, Steve O’Shaughnessey.
Odds (SkyBet): Northants 8/11, Leicestershire 5/4
