Skipper Willey confident selfless Steelbacks can keep getting better in the Blast

​And the skipper is hoping his side can go even further ithis campaign, which starts with a home game against Glamorgan on Friday night (start 6.30pm).

In the North Group from 2021 to 2023, Northants finished ninth of nine teams and then seventh twice.

The 2013 and 2016 champions struggled to put wins on the board.

However, Willey, who rejoined Northants from Yorkshire ahead of the 2023 campaign, helped to oversee a turnaround in fortunes.

In 2024, they reached the quarter-finals, and last season they made it all the way to the semi-finals.

And when asked why the Steelbacks have performed better during the past two seasons, WIlley said: "I actually think we've got a real good side.

"When I returned to the club, we had to shake things up a bit in terms of the culture around the T20 side because there were a lot of selfish behaviours going on within the team.

"We needed to iron that out and make sure whatever our role is, it's best for the team.

"If you look at the past couple of years, the number of players that off the back of completing their roles at certain points of the game has enabled them to go and get picked up in the Hundred, it's a reflection of what we've done really.

"That contribution whether it's with the bat, ball or in the field, putting into that team pot has been a big part of that.

"The beauty of what we're able to do here with not as many internationals is that we're able to often play with maybe 13, 14 players throughout the competition so you don't have too much swapping and changing.

"You can get some continuity in the line-up and how you want to play, which is a big part of it."​

After a revamp for 2026, the Steelbacks will play in the Central & West Group, and there will only be 12 group games instead of 14.

The Steelbacks start with Friday’s home date with Glamorgan, before making the trip to New Road to play Worcestershire Rapids on Sunday (2.30pm).