David Willey proposes earlier T20 Blast Finals Day

Northants Steelbacks captain David Willey is urging cricket officials to move T20 Blast Finals Day to an earlier date in the season. He believes it should take place in July, instead of September, to better fit the cricket calendar. In the last few years, the Finals Day has been played in September, a time that conflicts with The Hundred tournament. Willey criticized the current schedule, saying that the gap before quarter-finals hurt his team last year. He suggests that the domestic season could be extended into early October to create a more balanced schedule for all formats of the game. Willey also believes that playing T20 Finals Day just before The Hundred makes sense. He argues that clubs often enjoy great weather in October, which could be better for the players and groundsmen. He thinks there needs to be a balance between different formats of cricket throughout the season. Willey, who has won T20 titles with Northants in the past, is optimistic about the new season with Darren Lehmann as the head coach. He praised Lehmann for his extensive knowledge of cricket and believes he will push the players to do their best. The Steelbacks will start their season on April 4 against Kent and begin their T20 campaign on May 30 against Yorkshire. Although Willey mainly focuses on white-ball cricket now, he is open to playing some Championship matches if the team is in a position to compete for promotion. He still feels he has value to offer, especially with experience in international cricket. Even though he retired from national duties in 2023, he believes he could support younger players in the England team.