Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, weather forecast, form, prediction and everything else you need to know ahead of the latest round of the Vitality Blast...
Fixture: Northamptonshire Steelbacks v Birmingham Bears
Venue: County Ground, Northampton
Date: Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Start time: 6:30pm
What’s the lowdown?
Northants Steelbacks have got off to a rough start in the North Group losing their first two games. They kicked off their campaign against Worcestershire Rapids and fell 32 runs short in their chase of 186. They made an improvement in their second game, posting 200 for 7 against champions Notts Outlaws both only after having conceded 214
The Bears have made a mostly positive start in comparison. They lost their first fixture against Yorkshire, failing to post a competitive total, before slamming Notts for a tournament-best 229 for 5 the very next day. This was insurmountable and led the Bears into another strong victory over Derbyshire Falcons. The Bears are currently third in the North table, whilst Northants lie at the bottom due to an inferior run rate, despite having played one fewer game than winless Leicestershire.
Who’s in form?
Unsurprisingly, Sam Hain has been the standout performer for the Birmingham Bears. He has already struck two fifties in three games and is storming towards Ian Bell’s record of most T20 runs for the team. Carlos Braithwaite has meanwhile provided a spark with the ball, taking five wickets at 16.40.
Tom Taylor has been Northants' best performer so far, with his five scalps with the ball leading the way. Aside from Josh Cobb’s 91 runs, Northants have very little to shout about in the batting department and will be hoping for better from Richard Levi and Ricardo Vasconcelos.
What’s the team news?
Northamptonshire Steelbacks: The hosts have named a 14-man squad for their visit of Birmingham Bears on Tuesday night. They have lost their first two games but have stuck with the same squad heading into this clash.
Northamptonshire Steelbacks squad: Josh Cobb (c), Ben Curran, Nathan Buck, Brandon Glover, Rob Keogh, Richard Levi, Wayne Parnell, Adam Rossington (wk), Ben Sanderson, Tom Taylor, Charlie Thurston, Ricardo Vasconcelos, Graeme White, Saif Zaib
Birmingham Bears: The Bears remain unchanged as they look to record their third consecutive victory. Adam Hose remains on the sidelines with a hamstring problem, whilst Henry Brookes is also out with a thigh issue. Olly Stone is unavailable after being away with England but is likely to return for the Bears home game against Lancashire on Friday.
Birmingham Bears squad: Will Rhodes (C), Carlos Brathwaite, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Ethan Brookes, Michael Burgess, Sam Hain, Olly Hannon-Dalby, Jake Lintott, Pieter Malan, Craig Miles, Dan Mousley, Ed Pollock, Chris Woakes
Last five T20 results (most recent first)
Northamptonshire Steelbacks: LLWLL
Birmingham Bears: WWLLW
Head-to-head T20 record
Total matches: 35
Northamptonshire Steelbacks wins: 17
Birmingham Bears wins: 17
Tied: 1
Abandoned: 2
No result: 0
Latest Northamptonshire Steelbacks news
What’s the weather forecast?
There is a little cloud cover tomorrow morning, but that will burn off in the 22-degree heat, parting in perfect time for the cricket to start.
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Northampton: Click here
Going to the game?
Tickets
Tickets are sold out
Click here to access the Northamptonshire box office.
Travel
Address: The County Ground, Abington Ave, Northampton NN1 4PR
By car: Take Junction 15 from the M1 Motorway onto the A508 (A45) towards Northampton.
Follow the dual carriageway for approximately 3 miles passing the Hilton Hotel, Marriott Hotel and Delapre Golf course on your left-hand side.
Keeping in the left-hand lane, take the next exit from the dual carriageway marked A428 Bedford and Town Centre.
Move into the middle lane as you approach the roundabout at the bottom of the slip road.
Take the second exit following signs for Abington / Kingsthorpe onto the Rushmere Road. Follow the Rushmere Road (A5095) across the junction with Billing Road and continue straight on through Abington Park to the traffic lights at the main junction with Wellingborough Road.
On foot
ENTRANCE VIA ABINGTON AVENUE
Cross the lights at the junction with the Wellingborough Road keeping in the left-hand lane.
Turn left at the traffic light filter into Abington Avenue.
The cricket ground entrance is approximately 300 yards along Abington Avenue on the left-hand side.
ENTRANCE VIA WANTAGE ROAD
Turn left at the traffic lights with the Wellingborough Road onto the Wellingborough Road itself.
Take the first right approximately 100 yards along into Wantage Road.
The entrance is approximately 500 yards along the Wantage Road on the right-hand side.
By bus: Buses are available from Northampton Bus Station every 10 minutes. The best services are either 1 or 16 – both head towards Weston Favell.
The bus stop is located by the Abington Public House, 30 seconds from the Wantage Road gates. The bus journey takes roughly seven minutes.
By train: Northampton Station sits on the halfway point of the London to Birmingham Line and enjoys frequent and speedy services to both cities.
Northampton Train Station is approximately a 30–40 minute walk from the County Ground.
Alternatively, there is a taxi rank outside the train station, the ground and is a five-minute drive.
How do I follow the match?
Northamptonshire will offer live coverage of the match via their website: Click here
All T20 Blast matches are also available via the ECB's central hub: Click here
The matches can also be viewed on mobile via the ECB app.
Radio: All Vitality Blast fixtures will be available on BBC Local Radio stations with extensive coverage also on 5 Live Sports Extra.
Digital: The Cricketer will carry live scorecards and updates from every Vitality Blast match in 2021, as well as the latest breaking news from around the counties and exclusive features. Visit our County Hub for more.
Prediction?
Birmingham have not looked back since losing their opening match. Their free-flowing batting has been too much for Notts and Derbyshire and will most likely overwhelm the Steelbacks here. Bears Win.
OTHER T20 BLAST FIXTURES: TUESDAY, JUNE 15
North Group
Yorkshire Vikings v Leicestershire Foxes
Derbyshire Falcons v Lancashire Lightning
South Group
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