Nottinghamshire will continue their bustling early season calendar with a return to red ball cricket and the arrival of Somerset to Trent Bridge.

With both sides looking for a victory to fully kick-start their LV= County Championship campaigns, Nottinghamshire look likely to welcome Greg Smith back into their top order for the clash in the absence of Alex Hales.

After scoring consistent runs for Nottinghamshire’s second eleven, Smith is relishing the opportunity to represent the county in the game’s longest format.

“I’m likely to slot in at number three,” he said.

“There are some big shoes to fill, Alex has been in incredible form this season.

“I’ll knuckle down, I’ve been in the runs for the second team and now I know I need to push on and perform for the first team.”

After moving to Trent Bridge from Grace Road in the off-season, Smith admitted that having previously plied his trade in Division Two, Somerset are something of an unknown quantity to him, but he refused to be daunted by the task at hand.

“They’re a team I’ve never played in red ball cricket,” he said.

“I’ve faced them before in white ball cricket though, and am familiar with a few of their players. Jim Allenby for example, I know most recently from his time with Glamorgan.

“I’ll be asking the lads for bits of info on some of Somerset’s other bowlers – the Overtons and Alfonso Thomas – and keep a keen eye on them in the warm up tomorrow.”

Smith enjoyed a profitable spell at the top of the Nottinghamshire order through preseason, and the 26-year-old is keen to make the most of his opportunity this week to keep his place with the impending return of Alex Hales and also Michael Lumb, who remains sidelined with an arm injury.

“Everyone wants to play in a winning, and successful environment,” he said.

“All I can do is make the most of my opportunity here and cause Mick some headaches when it comes to picking his teams moving forward.

“I’ll look after my own game, and hopefully that’ll contribute to a win against Somerset.”

 

Nottinghamshire squad to face Somerset (from): Steven Mullaney, Brendan Taylor, Greg Smith, Samit Patel, Riki Wessels, James Taylor, Chris Read, Vernon Philander, Brett Hutton, Luke Wood, Harry Gurney, Jake Ball, Will Gidman.

 

Note for supporters:

Due to an event taking place at Nottingham Forest, the NFFC car park will not be available on the first day of the Somerset clash (May 17). Notts Sports Ground will be open and stewarded from 8.30am.