Northantscricket.com caught up with star man Andrew Hall ahead of what will be a promotion decider against Leicestershire. Northants face bottom club Leicestershire here at the County Ground from tomorrow, whilst main promotion rivals Essex are clashing with Derbyshire, who also have a good shot at promotion.

Andrew was part of the bowling attack that tried in vain to bowl Essex out last Friday evening, and first of all, we asked him to summarise the Essex match:

"We didn't bat well. We got ourselves into a tough situation and it was a difficult game. They came out of it after playing really well and we didn't take many of our opportunities. It's been hard work and with the last and most crucial game coming up now it doesn't get any easier. Hopefully we can get on with it and get a good win from the Leicestershire clash. We can still get promoted!"

After such a tight defeat, did it affect the morale of the team and what's the mood like in the dressing room at the moment?

"After the Essex game it was a bit sombre and we were all down in the dumps. The younger lads are still really keen and believe we can do this. We are all picking ourselves up, and getting ourselves prepared for a massive, massive game. We need to win it. We know what we need to do and the lads are getting really excited!"

What would promotion mean to the club?

"It will mean ever so much to the club, especially as it is so close this season, its the best chance we've had of promotion in a good couple of seasons. From a personal point of view, it is something that we set out to do at the start of this season, and to be able to achieve that goal would be fantastic for the club and for myself. "

So are you still holding on to fitness or is tiredness creeping in?

"I'm still holding on! On Saturday, after all that bowling against Essex, I was knackered. I was grateful for being allowed to rest by the coach, therefore missing the game against Middlesex. Me and Vander, (Johan van der Wath) needed that rest after bowling so hard in the Championship match. I was so tired. Those couple of days of rest have done me the world of good. I feel ready for the final push against Leicestershire. We can definitely do it!"

Northantscricket.com would like to wish Andrew and the team good luck in what could be a brilliant ending to the 2009 season.