part in turning the team into a side capable of turning opportu

Alex Wakely, the Northamptonshire captain, hailed his teams apparent weaknesses - their small squad and financial worries - as key factors in his sides success in the NatWest T20 Blast.Wakely led the side to their second T20 trophy in four years at Edgbaston on Saturday, overcoming a Nottinghamshire side containing nine international players in the semi-final and a Durham side boosted by the return of Ben Stokes and Mark Wood in the final.But while Northants small squad has, at times this season, seen their coach phoning around the counties for loan players ahead of games in order to be able to name a competitive team, it has also helped create a close-knit team spirit and sense of confidence in a dressing room that knows it need not fear for places. Crucially, in a format where role definition is so important, it has also given Northants players clarity and confidence in what is exacted of them and what they can expect of their team-mates.The difference was highlighted in the semi-final. While Nottinghamshire arrived at Edgbaston with a choice of three overseas players (only two could play) and having decided to leave out batsman Greg Smith, a regular in the qualifying games, in place of England opener Alex Hales, Northants had just one overseas player and committed to the team that had helped them reach Finals Day. Hales was subsequently bowled for a duck while Stuart Broad, having his first T20 bowl of the campaign, sent down only two overs.While it was Northants first victory over Nottinghamshire in any format since 2006, Wakely suggested that not facing such selection dilemmas might have been a factor in the result.A lot of the reason weve been successful over years is that weve played pretty much the same team throughout the competition, Wakeley said. You look at Notts they chopped and changed their side and it doesnt always work.Greg Smith for instance for Notts he was one of the best players all year and then hes not playing. I dont agree with it, but it is the way it is.We dont have that problem and thats a massive reason why weve come out here and done what weve done.Our small squad means we dont look over our shoulders. When someone does well, we are always enjoying it. At bigger counties, there is always someone looking over their shoulder thinking that could be me. We dont have that.The continuity in the dressing room helps. Weve played pretty much the same team all the way through the competition for the last three years. We dont want to be a feeder club. Going forward, theres a two or three year plan to keep our best players.While Northants have not always been in the news for the right reasons of late - their financial troubles have been well chronicled - Wakely insisted the dressing room culture was the best he had experienced. Indeed, it seems the us against the world attitude has helped forge a spirit within the squad that proved so important on finals day when Northants twice found themselves three wickets down within the first 14 balls of their innings.Theres a lot of off-field stuff written that we have to try and ignore, Wakely said. People on our backs, hammering us down, calling us overweight, all that kind of stuff.But we ignore it. That dressing room is the best Ive played with. I couldnt be more proud. I love this club to bits. Ive been here since I was 13 and things keep getting better and better. Laurie Evans came in [on-loan from Warwickshire recently] and said it was the most enjoyable dressing room he played in.Its pretty simple: I believe that, if you have a happy changing room, you perform.They were words backed by Saturdays Man of the Match, Josh Cobb. Cobb, who made a sparkling 80 in the final, also won the Man of the Match award for his bowling in the 2011 final (bowling a few long-hops as he modestly put it) while representing Leicestershire, but admitted he was enjoying his cricket much more with Northants. As a result he has rejected approaches from other counties - Derbyshire are believed to have been especially keen - and signed a new three-year deal.I wasnt massively enjoying my cricket at Leicester, Cobb said. I had a few tough seasons. But Ive come here and they had an exceptional white-ball side, but more than anything Ive just really enjoying my cricket. The team spirit is exceptional and Ive been here two years and Ive played in three out of a possible four quarter-finals and played in two T20 finals in two years. Im really enjoying it and, ultimately, thats why you play the game.Such was Cobbs enthusiasm for the cause that he delayed knee surgery for several weeks to help Northants in their Royal London quarter-final and at T20 Finals Day.This is the last time youll see me on the field this season, he said. I have been struggling with my knee. But I always believed that wed be playing in a final and thats the reason Ive taken the pain killers and decided to battle through.Air Max 97 Womens Clearance . Down by seven with 90 seconds left in regulation, thats where they looked comfortable. Wholesale Air Max 95 Womens . Q: Team Canada announces their Olympic roster three weeks from today. Who is general manager Steve Yzerman watching? 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Here we look at the key moments in the match and assess their significance as England stretched their winning run to 13 matches.Elliot Daly is red carded in the fourth minute as Senatore lands on his neck and backThere was an eerie silence as the TMO went through the various angles to show referee Pascal Gauzere Dalys poorly timed challenge on the Argentina No.8. Gauzere took his time, talked through how Senatore landed on his neck and head and then made his call: red card.Based on the recent directive from World Rugby which sees greater protection than ever given around any contact with a players head, Gauzere had no option but to send Daly off. It was the correct call.It meant England had to play 75 minutes - it ended up being 82 with the first-half carrying on for what seemed an eternity - with 14 men and meant their gameplan had to shift as they were barely breaking sweat.England train for these eventualities, also playing 13 men versus 15 so they are ready but even the most prepared team would struggle to envisage playing almost an entire match a man down.Jonathan Joseph had to cover Dalys wing and his own outside centre position while Mike Brown slotted into the defensive line on occasion, leaving England without a sweeper at the back.Argentina should have exploited this with more frequency but Josephs work, along with an astonishing work-rate from Englands back-row, meant they covered Dalys absence.Estelles takes out May in the air, May lands on his front, but the referee and TMO say just a penaltyAgain Gauzere got this call correct. May originally landed on his feet after Estelles outstretched arm caught the airborne May. Gauzere again went to the TMO, talked through the various motions in the tackle and awarded England a penalty.Vunipola takes it on, Robshaw puts the ball out wide towards Wood, but its slapped down by OrlandoGauzere shows Orlando a yellow card and awards England a penalty try. The outstanding Chris Robshaw made this try. Robshaws work-rate was through the roof as he chased every kicked ball and what looked to be the odd lost cause.But his pressure with Tom Wood and Billy Vunipola meant Argentina conceded a turnover close to their tryline. Vunipola forced the turnover, Robshaw got the pass away to the waiting Wood who would have had a walk in for the try but Matias Orlando slapped the ball forward.Gauzere went for the penalty try and yellow carded the Argentinean winger - again he got this call correct.What was so impressive here was Englands work-rate and communication.Robshaw was heroic for England as was the superb Wood while the clarity of their systems meant they knew howw to stretch Argentina, a man up, to create the overlap which would have seen Wood score but for the knock-on from Orlando.ddddddddddddAnother penalty for Argentina and Dan Cole is sin-binnedThe scrum is reset for the seventh time and Facundo Isa scores. The Pumas should have perhaps been awarded a penalty try as England dragged the scrum down time and time again.Cole was eventually yellow-carded after the sixth reset and 13-man England then conceded to Isa who ducked under flailing arms to score.As the clock ticked on to the 48th minute in the first half, one which lasted an hour in total, Englands fitness and focus were stretched and eventually the Pumas punished them.TRY-- 50 seconds into the second-half and Argentina are back to their bestThis was the most delicious of tries. The Pumas went down the left flank, with wonderful passing and eventually Santiago Cordero goes over under the posts. It was a joy to watch and proof that when Argentina get into their stride, they are a terrifying prospect.But having seen them stretch the numerically disadvantaged England, you have to ask why Argentina did not adopt this approach more often. England were there for the taking out wide but this was the only time that the Pumas punished them.At 16-14 it could have been the turning point in the match but instead England re-found their composure and focus.England make no mistake as they take Argentina apart. May runs in to score down the left. Ben Youngs, George Ford, Wood and Joseph all played their part in Mays game-clinching score. The try was testament to the work Eddie Jones has done with Englands attack.His role as attack coach, along with his head coach duties, do not get the same praise but when England had their opportunities, they punished Argentina and Jones deserves praise for his part in turning the team into a side capable of turning opportunities into points.Pieretto sent off for a stamp while Joe Marler is yellow carded for holding. Gauzere had no option here but to red card the Pumas reserve tight-head for the ugliest of stamps. Marler also correctly yellow carded for his part in holding back Pieretto.But by this stage the game had finished as a contest and ensured England stretched their winning run to 13 games, 12 coming under Jones.When England reflect on this match at the end of the year, they will remember a game where this was as much a test of their physical capability as it was mental. Despite having the man down , they stayed together and played brilliantly to see off the Pumas.This may prove to be the defining match of a year which has already seen them win a Grand Slam and a series in Australia. ' ' '