I love an underdog triumph as much as the next man, and when the victorious tale involves a team that you support, then it is that much sweeter. To call Northamptonshire underdogs in the T20 format may sound odd; after all, the county won the tournament in 2013, and were runners-up last season. Yet in terms of resources, the county are a prime example of a team punching above their weight.
During my childhood I was lucky enough to enjoy the era of Lamb, Larkins, Bailey, Capel and so many others, including current coach David Ripley. The two final defeats in 1987 were hard to take, and the 1995 County Championship contenders containing Anil Kumble was another story of so near yet so far. Our 2013 T20 win was thrilling, but it was only when I started to take my son to Wantage Road in 2014, that my enthusiasm was truly stirred again.
