Steelbacks skipper Josh Cobb still has The Hundred in his sights

Josh Cobb smashes a boundary on his way to his match-winning 80 for the Steelbacks in the 2016 T20 Final at Edgbaston

The Northants Steelbacks’ white-ball skipper was not impressed that he was overlooked by the coaches of the eight franchises that will make up the competition in the ECB’s new format in July and August.

And the two-time T20 winner has got a point.

Cobb has twice been named man-of-the-match in English cricket’s T20 showpiece final, first for Leicestershire Foxes in 2011, when he claimed four wickets with his spin bowling, and then again for Northants in 2016, hammering a match-winning 80 from just 48 balls.

Josh Cobb, pictured here with skipper Alex Wakely, was named the man of the match in the 2016 T20 Final

He has been a consistent performer with bat and ball in what has been the shortest form of the game throughout his career, and has been the Steelbacks’ T20 player of the year in three of the past four seasons, but when it came to The Hundred he was left overlooked and sidelined.

Northants won the T20 in 2013 and 2016, and reached the final in 2015.

They are a squad with pedigree, but Adam Rossington was the only player from Wantage Road to be picked up, and, providing the sporting world has returned to normal following the current coronavirus crisis, he will play for a London Spirit side that will have County boss David Ripley as one of its coaches.

And although Cobb felt disappointed to be left out of the original picks, he knows a good T20 campaign with the Steelbacks, with the competition scheduled to start at the end of May, could yet see him catch the eye and feature in the new competition.

Josh Cobb (centre) was named the man of the match as Leicestershire Foxes claimed the T20 title in 2011

Providing the T20 competition goes ahead, each Hundred franchise still has one more wildcard selection to make at the end of the group stages, and Cobb also feels other spots may yet open up as well.

But he knows it is all about what he does for the Steelbacks that will count

Speaking before the full extent of the current coronavirus pandemic became clear, Cobb said: “I was obviously disappointed not to be picked up, but that is sport.

“There are still going to be however many wildcards, plus injury replacements.

Adam Rossington is the only Northants Steelbacks player currently pencilled in to play in The Hundred later this year

“All I can do is put in the performances, and hopefully lead Northants into the quarter-finals and onwards.

“In doing that I can hopefully put in some good performances myself, and if that comes about (selection for The Hundred), then it comes about.

“My focus is all on Northants now, and what will be will be elsewhere.”

The Hundred has proved to be pretty controversial among cricket supporters, who it is fair to say haven’t welcomed the new competition and franchise system with open arms.

But Cobb, who is set lead the Steelbacks in their opening T20 match of the season at Lancashire Lightning on May 29, says it is something that players are excited about, for several reasons.

“It is something new, there is more money, the competition is going to be on the world stage, and if you do well in it then that could lead to you being picked up for different tournaments,” said the Leicester-born player.

“Outside of playing international cricket, travelling the world and playing the T20 circuit is probably what people aspire to.

“The Hundred is a bigger stage, there is more publicity, more TV games, and the opportunity is there to put on performances and kick on to wherever your aspirations are.”

So, what are the aspirations and ambitions of Cobb?

Still in his prime at the age of 29, Cobb admits he hasn’t given up on one day representing his country, but he knows that will only come by piling on the runs and securing

success with the County.

“First and foremost, I want to put in performances for Northants, and then lead the club to quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals,” said Cobb, who took over the white ball captaincy from Alex Wakely midway through last summer.

“Over the past few years since I have been here we have had some great days out doing that kind of stuff, so it will be great to get back there.

“If that happens, then the knock on from that is more opportunities, and if that leads to The Hundred, and then travelling the world playing cricket would be an ideal.

“At the top end, if you are performing at that level then the international selectors will look at you, and that is the process.

“I am at the bottom of that process at the moment, and it is about trying to perform and climb that ladder I suppose.

“It is an exciting time to be a cricketer, and hopefully I have got a few more years in the tank yet.”