INTERVIEW: Paul Stirling on the Steelbacks and T20 momentum, being reunited with an old pal and hitting 142 against the world champions

Northants' opening group game in the truncated 10-match group campaign was a victim of the weather on Thursday, their clash against Gloucestershire at Bristol being abandoned without a ball being bowled.

The damage to the Steelbacks' cause was minimal though, as Worcestershire's match with Glamorgan was also rained off, and there is every chance Friday night's other Central Group game between Birmingham Bears and Somerset Sabres will go the same way, which would leave all the Central Group teams on one point apiece.

So after something of a false start, the Steelbacks will be hoping to get properly up and running this weekend, when the face two games in two days.

On Saturday they go to New Road to take on Worcestershire Rapids (1pm) before hosting Somerset on Sunday (2pm), and they then have two more matches next week, against Birmingham Bears and Glamorgan.

It is a hectic start to what is going to be a whirlwind competition, and that means there is little margin for error if the Steelbacks want to progress to the knockout stages by finishing in the top two, or being one of the two best third-placed sides.

"There are two blocks of five matches, and it's one of those where if you can get momentum then it is huge," said Ireland international Stirling, who will be hoping to make his Northants debut at New Road.

"I know that's a bit of a buzzword, but if you can win your first couple then you can really push on and win a lot of them.

"But if you lose the first couple, you are always clawing it back and you are thinking what's the best third place, or can we get second?

"So, it will come think and fast and we need to get on the right side of it."

The England & Wales Cricket Board have done an excellent job to get any sort of season up and running after the Covid-19 pandemic, and Stirling is just delighted to be in England and playing again.

"At one stage, I didn't think we were going to get 10 group games in, so from that point of view I am thankful," said the 29-year-old.

"At one point I thought it might be just matches home or away, but to have three groups of six and to play home and away for five games, I think that's brilliant.

"The best teams will definitely come out of that after 10 games, so hopefully that is us."

Stirling is delighted to have joined up with Northants, and in particular the fact that it has given him the chance to hook up again with his former Middlesex team-mate Adam Rossington.

"I have known Rosso for a long time, as 16 and 17-year-olds we were playing with Middlesex IIs and we opened the batting together for a couple of years," he said.

"We really enjoyed each other's company, and he was straight on the text to me (when the opportunity to join Northants arose) saying 'look, we might have a chance here', and we can bring back the good old days!

"So I am really looking forward to playing with him, he is such a talented batter and plays shots that nobody else around the country can play, I just love watching him.

"Hopefully I can be there at the other end while he is hitting them around the park."

Stirling had to leave Middlesex after 10 years with the club at the end of last summer, opting instead to further his career with the Ireland national side that has now been granted Test playing status.

That step up for his national side meant Stirling fell into the ranks of overseas player when it came to English domestic cricket, and he admits it was a big call on whether to follow his international ambitions, or give them up to prolong his playing days at Lord's.

"It was a tough decision, big time," he said. "I loved my time at Middlesex, I had a great time there and loved the people.

"It is just a shame that it came to a head almost, and I had to choose one.

"It wasn't an easy decision, but you have to make sure that if you make these decisions you make the right one, and that is the plan so far.

"But it is just nice to be back over here now and playing in the T20 Blast.

"I had a good time in it in previous seasons, so it is nice to get another crack at it this year.

"I think the best I have done in it is when we got to quarters, and then we lost here to Northampton four or five years ago, so it would be nice to go a little bit further this time."

Stirling certainly arrives in good form, and he hit the headlines earlier in the month with his stunning innings of 142 from just 128 balls that saw the Irish beat world champions England in a high-scoring one-day international in Southampton.

It was the third match in a three-match series, England having won the first two, but Stirling admitted it was a relief for him to show what he can do after a difficult summer without any cricket.

"It was nice to get some runs, especially as we had spent so long in lockdown," he said of his man-of-the-match performance against Eoin Morgan's side.

"That went on for about two-and-a-half months, and then to just get a week's practice, you are never really sure how you are going to come out of it.

"The first couple of games were really scratchy, so it was nice to get those runs in the end just to prove you can still hold a bat!

"But it was good to get them and hopefully I can now continue that form, but it is all about getting a good start."