Northants confident for 'brutal' One-Day Cup

Northants are hoping for wickets from fit-again pace bowler Jack White

Northamptonshire head coach John Sadler hopes his side can carry their T20 Blast form forwards as they look to make an impact in the One-Day Cup.

They won their final three Blast games to finish second in their group and earn a home quarter-final against 2023 winners Somerset.

The club, who have not won a white-ball trophy in the 21st century other than in the 20-over format, start their One-Day Cup campaign at home to Derbyshire.

"The success we've had in T20, we take a lot of confidence from that, but we're nought for nought effectively on Wednesday; we start again in a new competition and every other team will be doing the same," Sadler told BBC Radio Northampton.

"But we are in a good place, we've got some depth [in the squad], we have a fresh Jack White, who hasn't played anywhere near as much cricket as he or we would have hoped this year, so we'll be able to get some cricket out of him.

"With Sando [Ben Sanderson] as well, he's relatively fresh, he's bowled a lot of overs but the T20 does give him that natural breathing space.

"Will they play [all] eight games, I doubt it, because this format is the most brutal of all of them, especially when they're in such quick succession."

Northants have not reached the knockout stage of the 50-over competition since 2016, when they topped their group but lost to Surrey in the quarter-finals.

They only won three of their eight group games in 2023, but are one of the sides least affected by players taking part in The Hundred, which takes place at the same time, although England all-rounder David Willey will be away with Welsh Fire.

"We had a good squad last year and didn't play anywhere near as well as we should have done," said Sadler.

"This format is an interesting one to get right because the longer the game, the better team normally thinks their way to victory. It's a true test of skill, but also fitness and mental resilience."