NOR · team desk
Northamptonshire Steelbacks Team: Squad, Results, Stats & Schedule
Northamptonshire Steelbacks' complete 2026 Vitality Blast championship hub: the 16-player officially selected group; all 12 group scores, the home quarter-final and both Finals Day wins; Chris Lynn's team-high 518 runs; James Sales' 25 wickets; David Willey's 402-run, 14-wicket all-round campaign; Darren Lehmann's coaching group; the cinch County Ground; title history in 2013, 2016 and 2026; recent-season comparisons; and official club channels.
Northamptonshire, England
NOR
Vitality Blast champions · 2013, 2016 and 2026
- Captain
- David Willey · 2026 T20 captain
- Head coach
- Darren Lehmann · Men's Head Coach
- Home
- cinch County Ground
- Founded
- 1878 · Northamptonshire County Cricket Club
Team overview
Northamptonshire Steelbacks at a glance
Northamptonshire Steelbacks are the limited-overs identity of Northamptonshire County Cricket Club, founded in 1878. The club is organised as a company limited by guarantee with supporter shareholders rather than as a privately owned franchise, and it competes across England's three senior men's county competitions.
The Steelbacks topped the six-team 2026 Central & West Group with nine wins, three losses, 36 points and a +0.936 net run rate. They then beat Gloucestershire by eight wickets at Wantage Road, defending champions Somerset by 17 runs in the semi-final and Hampshire Hawks by 14 runs in the final to finish 12-3 across the complete campaign.
Chris Lynn led the batting with 518 runs despite playing 13 of the 15 matches. Ricardo Vasconcelos made 439 and struck 88 in the final, while David Willey combined 402 runs with 14 wickets. James Sales led the attack with 25 wickets, ahead of Calvin Harrison's 22 and Ben Sanderson's 21.
The 2026 victory was Northamptonshire's third men's domestic T20 title after 2013 and 2016. Vasconcelos' final innings and a balanced attack completed the first Steelbacks championship in ten years.
ChampionsCHAMPIONS
2026 Vitality Blast champions
The final ECB group table records first place at 9-3, 36 points and NRR +0.936. Northamptonshire then won three knockout matches, so the complete championship record shown here is 15 played, 12 won and three lost; group points and NRR do not extend into knockouts.
Performance leaders
Northamptonshire Steelbacks' 2026 Vitality Blast team leaders
The totals cover all 15 matches, including the quarter-final, semi-final and final. The all-round card reports Willey's actual batting and bowling aggregate; it is not presented as an official tournament award.
Top run-scorer518 runsChris Lynn
Thirteen innings · strike rate 169.84 · team-record 117 at Glamorgan
Ricardo Vasconcelos
Played all 15 matches and made 88 from 59 balls in the final
James Sales
Competition's third-highest tally · 5/21 against Gloucestershire
Calvin Harrison
Economy 6.86 · career-best 5/9 in the 130-run Essex win
David Willey
Captained the champions and struck with the first ball of both Finals Day innings
Ricardo Vasconcelos
Fifty-nine balls in the 14-run title win over Hampshire Hawks
Highest team total238/6 vs EssexWon by 130 runs
Best bowlingCalvin Harrison5/9 vs Essex
Best pace figuresJames Sales5/21 vs Gloucestershire
Completed scores
All 15 Northamptonshire Steelbacks scores in Vitality Blast 2026
Every completed score is shown in chronological order: ten Central & West Group fixtures, two crossover matches, a home quarter-final and two Finals Day wins. Northamptonshire went 9-3 in the group and 3-0 in the knockouts for a 12-3 championship record.
| Result | Date | Opponent & venue | Scores | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | Match Group match 1 | Glamorgancinch County Ground, Northampton | NOR 165/8 (20 overs)Glamorgan 162/8 (20 overs) | Won by 3 runs |
| W | Match Group match 2 | Worcestershire RapidsVisit Worcestershire New Road, Worcester | NOR 191 all out (20 overs)Worcestershire Rapids 91 all out (14.4 overs) | Won by 100 runs |
| W | Match Group match 3 | Gloucestershirecinch County Ground, Northampton | NOR 166/3 (16.2 overs)Gloucestershire 164/9 (20 overs) | Won by 7 wickets |
| W | Match Group match 4 | Warwickshire BearsEdgbaston, Birmingham | NOR 209/4 (19.2 overs)Warwickshire Bears 208/7 (20 overs) | Won by 6 wickets |
| W | Match Crossover match | DurhamBanks Homes Riverside, Chester-le-Street | NOR 145/9 (20 overs)Durham 138/8 (20 overs) | Won by 7 runs |
| W | Match Group match 6 | Worcestershire Rapidscinch County Ground, Northampton | NOR 162/4 (16 overs)Worcestershire Rapids 154/5 (18 overs) | Won by 6 wickets (DLS) |
| W | Match Crossover match | Essexcinch County Ground, Northampton | NOR 238/6 (20 overs)Essex 108 all out (13.2 overs) | Won by 130 runs |
| W | Match Group match 8 | GloucestershireSeat Unique Stadium, Bristol | NOR 187/2 (17.2 overs)Gloucestershire 184/2 (20 overs) | Won by 8 wickets |
| L | Match Group match 9 | Somersetcinch County Ground, Northampton | NOR 118 all out (15.3 overs)Somerset 223/4 (20 overs) | Lost by 105 runs |
| W | Match Group match 10 | GlamorganSophia Gardens, Cardiff | NOR 217/7 (20 overs)Glamorgan 164 all out (18.3 overs) | Won by 53 runs |
| L | Match Group match 11 | SomersetCooper Associates County Ground, Taunton | NOR 162/8 (20 overs)Somerset 164/3 (15 overs) | Lost by 7 wickets |
| L | Match Group match 12 | Warwickshire Bearscinch County Ground, Northampton | NOR 153 all out (20 overs)Warwickshire Bears 154/5 (18.2 overs) | Lost by 5 wickets |
| W | Match Quarter-final | Gloucestershirecinch County Ground, Northampton | NOR 153/2 (17.4 overs)Gloucestershire 152 all out (20 overs) | Won by 8 wickets |
| W | Match Semi-final | SomersetEdgbaston, Birmingham | NOR 143 all out (19.2 overs)Somerset 126/9 (20 overs) | Won by 17 runs |
| W | Match Final | Hampshire HawksEdgbaston, Birmingham | NOR 169 all out (19.5 overs)Hampshire Hawks 155 all out (19.2 overs) | Won by 14 runs |
Officially selected 2026 T20 group and title-winning participants
Northamptonshire Steelbacks 2026 Vitality Blast squad
This 16-player season group is the union of Northamptonshire's official opening, mid-campaign and late-group squad announcements. It records players selected in a 2026 Blast match-day group; Justin Broad's campaign ended through injury before the knockouts, while the remaining title-winning XI came from the same documented group.
Batters
BatterChris LynnWicketkeeper-batters
All-Rounders
All-RounderSaif ZaibBowlers
Competition record
League and season history
Northamptonshire use the Steelbacks name in the Vitality Blast and One Day Cup, while the county also plays in the County Championship. This page isolates the completed 2026 men's Blast campaign; other formats and the separate Steelbacks Women's programme are not mixed into these records.
| Season | Finish | Record | Top scorer | Most wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Champions · 1st Central & West Group | 12 wins · 3 losses overall | Chris Lynn · 518 | James Sales · 25 |
| 2025 | Semi-finals · 4th North Group | 9 wins · 7 losses overall | David Willey · 452 | Ben Sanderson · 24 |
| 2024 | Quarter-finals · 2nd North Group | 8 wins · 4 losses · 1 tie · 1 no-result in group | Matthew Breetzke · 460 | David Willey · 15 in group |
Team operations
NOR coaching and support staff
Darren Lehmann
Led Northamptonshire through the 2026 title-winning campaign.
Glen Chapple
Listed in the club's current men's coaching group.
Greg Smith
Listed in the club's current men's coaching group.
David Willey
Captain since 2023 and title-winning leader in 2026.
Justin Broad
Appointed for 2026; injury ended his campaign before the knockout stage.
Home venue
County Ground, Northampton
Northampton, EnglandThe historic Wantage Road ground is Northamptonshire's home. It hosted all six 2026 group home fixtures and the eight-wicket quarter-final win over Gloucestershire; the semi-final and final were played at Edgbaston.
Open the official venue source ↗Team news
Latest NOR updates
The latest official club reports cover the championship, leadership and squad changes. A completed scorecard is used for the quarter-final result because the club archive does not expose a dedicated post-match article for that game.
Championship report · 18 Jul 2026
Steelbacks beat Hampshire to become 2026 Vitality Blast champions
Read at Northamptonshire CCC ↗Quarter-final · 15 Jul 2026Steelbacks beat Gloucestershire by eight wickets in the home quarter-final
Read at Cricbuzz scorecard ↗Injury update · 10 Jul 2026Justin Broad ruled out for the rest of the 2026 season
Read at Northamptonshire CCC ↗Record innings · 08 Jul 2026Chris Lynn's record 117 secures top spot and a home quarter-final
Read at Northamptonshire CCC ↗Leadership · 02 Feb 2026David Willey retained as captain and Justin Broad named vice-captain
Read at Northamptonshire CCC ↗Official destinations
NOR website and social handles
Use these direct links to avoid fan accounts and lookalike profiles.
Reader questions
Northamptonshire Steelbacks FAQ
Did Northamptonshire Steelbacks win the 2026 Vitality Blast?
Yes. Northamptonshire beat Gloucestershire in the quarter-final, Somerset in the semi-final and Hampshire Hawks by 14 runs in the final to win their third title.
Who captained Northamptonshire Steelbacks in 2026?
David Willey captained the Steelbacks, with Justin Broad appointed vice-captain before injury ended Broad's season.
Who scored the most Northamptonshire runs in the 2026 Blast?
Chris Lynn led the team with 518 runs in 13 innings, including a team-record 117 at Glamorgan.
Who took the most Northamptonshire wickets in 2026?
James Sales led with 25 wickets, followed by Calvin Harrison with 22 and Ben Sanderson with 21.
Who was Northamptonshire's leading all-rounder in 2026?
Captain David Willey made 402 runs and took 14 wickets across the completed championship campaign.
Who coaches Northamptonshire Steelbacks?
Darren Lehmann is Men's Head Coach, supported by Lead Bowling Coach Glen Chapple and Lead Batting Coach Greg Smith.
Where do Northamptonshire Steelbacks play home matches?
They play at the cinch County Ground on Wantage Road in Northampton. It hosted all six 2026 group home games and the quarter-final.
Who owns Northamptonshire County Cricket Club?
The club operates as a supporter-shareholder company limited by guarantee without share capital, not as a privately owned T20 franchise.
How many T20 Blast titles have Northamptonshire won?
Three: the Steelbacks won England's men's domestic T20 competition in 2013, 2016 and 2026.
Do Northamptonshire play in other competitions?
Yes. The club also plays in the County Championship and One Day Cup, while Steelbacks Women have a separate programme and record.
What are Northamptonshire CCC's official social handles?
The club uses @NorthantsCCC on X, northantsccc on Facebook and Instagram, and @northantsccc for its Steelbacks TV YouTube channel.
References
Sources for this team page
Updated 2026-08-10. Northamptonshire and ECB sources establish the group, leadership, coaches, venue, title history and squad timeline. Completed scorecards close the three knockout results and player aggregates. The club's Essex article says 236/8, but the official Essex scorecard and match feeds record 238/6; this page uses the scorecard figure.
01
ECBFinal 2026 Central & West Group table
Open ↗02Northamptonshire CCCOfficial opening squad and 2026 selection notes
Open ↗03Northamptonshire CCCOfficial late-group 16-player squad
Open ↗04Northamptonshire CCCOfficial championship report, final score and third title
Open ↗05Northamptonshire CCCCurrent men's coaching staff directory
Open ↗06Northamptonshire CCC2026 fixtures and County Ground home schedule
Open ↗07Northamptonshire CCCOfficial leadership announcement
Open ↗08Northamptonshire CCCOfficial 2025 batting, bowling and all-round totals
Open ↗09Northamptonshire CCCClub foundation and ownership history
Open ↗10IPL.comCompleted 2026 player batting and bowling aggregates
Open ↗11CricbuzzCompleted quarter-final scorecard
Open ↗12Essex CricketOfficial opponent scorecard confirming 238/6 against Essex
Open ↗13ECBFinal 2024 North Group table
Open ↗