Northamptonshire County Cricket Club is one of the eighteen first-class county clubs in the domestic cricket structure of England and Wales, representing the historic county of Northamptonshire. Its limited-overs team is known as the Northants Steelbacks, a name inspired by the Northamptonshire Regiment, formed in 1881, and meant to honor the soldiers' reputed resistance to strict discipline. Established in 1878, Northamptonshire initially held minor status but became a significant participant in the Minor Counties Championship in the 1890s. In 1905, the club joined the County Championship, gaining first-class status and has since competed in every top-level domestic cricket competition in England.
