Northants legends join emerging local talent for new T20 league at Wantage Road

And The Steeler is proud to be the digital partner for the event, bringing you all the latest news and interviews during the build-up and throughout the tournament.

The Gateway T20 League takes place at the cinch County Ground from 17–20 August. It has been created to provide a platform for talented young cricketers who may have narrowly missed out on county contracts, been released from the professional game, or are still developing through club cricket.

The hope is that exposure in a competitive environment will help some of the young players to earn another opportunity in the professional game.

Many of the players selected this year currently represent clubs in the Northamptonshire Cricket League and the Buckinghamshire Cricket League. That provides an excellent opportunity for local clubs to support and watch their players compete on a first-class stage. Players from the Northamptonshire Academy will also take part.

The franchise-style format provides aspiring cricketers with an opportunity to showcase their abilities while sharing the field with and learning directly from some of the game’s most respected names.

These include former Northamptonshire and England great Monty Panesar, former Northamptonshire T20 Blast winner Josh Cobb, the county’s current batting coach Greg Smith, and the former Kent all-rounder Matt Coles, who spent a spell on loan at Northamptonshire in 2019.

Also taking part are former Durham and England wicketkeeper Phil Mustard, former Leicestershire and Kent all-rounder Darren Stevens and the former Glamorgan, Warwickshire and Derbyshire all-rounder Graham Wagg.

There are further exciting names still to be announced.

Gateway T20 League founder Ash Baluja said: “Our ambition is to create another meaningful pathway for talented club cricketers while celebrating the strength of recreational cricket across Northamptonshire and the surrounding counties.

“We hope to fill the ground with local cricket clubs and create an unforgettable showcase for the game.”

The event also features a special T20 match between Northamptonshire Steelbacks Women and Buckinghamshire CCC Women, which will take place before the grand final on 20 August.

Beyond the cricket, the event has activities aimed at the whole family, including:

• Free admission

• Live entertainment before the grand final

• Food trucks and refreshments

• Kids’ zone and family activities

• A festival atmosphere celebrating grassroots cricket

You can register for free tickets in advance using the following link: https://tinyurl.com/Gatewayt20

Although entry is free, registering helps the organisers manage attendance and ensure the best possible experience for everyone.