Australian batter Nathan McSweeney is set to lead the Northamptonshire Steelbacks in the 2026 One Day Cup, as confirmed by head coach Darren Lehmann.

Playing the 2026 season for Northamptonshire, the right-handed batter has scored 589 runs in 13 innings, averaging 49.08, and striking at 51.9 in the County Championship, scoring three centuries and two half- centuries. He has also scored 127 runs in five games at a strike rate of 124.50 in the 2026 T20 Blast.

McSweeney, appointed captain of South Australia in 2024, led them to back-to-back Sheffield Shield titles in the 2024-25 season and 2025-26 season, the first time the club have lifted consecutive titles.

He also led them to the One-Day Cup title in 2024, their first in 13 years. 

"He's a pretty astute captain and had a lot of success," Lehmann said, speaking on BBC Radio Northampton. 

The Steelbacks will be losing six players to the Men's Hundred 2026, which is set to run simultaneously with the One-Day Cup. T20 skipper David Willey, Ben Sanderson, Saif Zaib, George Scrimshaw, James Sales and Louis Kimber are the six players set to miss the 50-over competition.

Lehmann expressed his excitement at having youngsters take the place of the experienced stars, getting an opportunity to show their skills, and was mindful of how the absences would test their squad depth. 

"The great thing about that comp is it gives young guys an opportunity so we're really looking forward to it. We lose six guys to The Hundred, so that tests your squad depth, but that's fine," Lehmann said.

Northants resume their T20 Blast on Friday, June 26, against Essex. This is the first time the two teams will meet in the shortest format in 13 years.

They will be looking to continue their unbeaten run in the competition, having won six in six in the 2026 season.

"That'll be a great game, we're looking forward to a full house and getting into the razzmatazz of T20 cricket," Lehmann added, speaking of the clash against Essex.

The Steelbacks will kick off their One-Day Cup campaign on July 21 against Warwickshire at the County Ground in Northampton. 

"That'll be a great game, we're looking forward to a full house and getting into the razzmatazz of T20 cricket," Lehmann added, speaking of the clash against Essex.

The Steelbacks will kick off their One-Day Cup campaign on July 21 against Warwickshire at the County Ground in Northampton.