Paul Franks is adamant that Nottinghamshire’s Seconds will not be treating their final match against Essex before the regular season starts as a ‘friendly’ as he challenges his side to finish their preparations on a high.
Franks' men enjoyed the best of a rain-affected match against Loughborough MCCU, including the batsmen getting a workout against Stuart Broad, who was guesting for the students.
Second team coach and captain Franks believes his side are well set for the season and says the game against Essex marks the time to start putting in performances.
“I don’t get friendly cricket,” said Franks.
“When we start playing the counties we view them as proper games and the opportunity is there for individuals to shine and start the season well.
“Tom Keast is an example of that from the other week, he played very nicely and showed what we want from the younger guys in the developments they have made over the winter.
“You see from the likes of Jake Ball, Luke Wood and Brett Hutton over the past year or so that there are opportunities for the young Nottinghamshire players, but they have to show their desire to take them.
“First and foremost they have to show their ability to reproduce skills; that's what will get them playing at Trent Bridge week in week out and get them under Mick’s tutelage rather than mine.
“My idea of a Nottinghamshire based team hasn’t changed, they will get their chance if we believe they are good enough and see how they go.”
Nottinghamshire's second string begin their Championship defence against Warwickshire next week but Franks insists all he is focusing on is preparing players for first team cricket.
“Retaining the Championship is absolutely not the priority for this season, of course it was great and the lads now know what is expected for them to do that,” he said.
“My main job is making sure the first team lads are ready to go back up as soon as possible and those that are in the second team are establishing themselves and catching Mick’s eye.
“We haven’t seen much of Billy Root over the winter months as we know he is well looked after by Leeds/Bradford MCCU and is very self driven.
“He knows weight of runs are what he needs to get in that first team squad, like at the back end of last year and I was very pleased for him when he got his maiden first class hundred (against Sussex last week).
“Jack Blatherwick, at 17-years-old, is another to impress and we are quite excited by what the future holds for him.
“We now have to make sure we use him sensibly through the early part of the season and get his workload used to the rigours of week in week out cricket.
“Over the course of the three days down in Colchester hopefully some of these individuals will perform and get us into winning positions, and that experience will stand them in good stead for getting over the line in matches to come.”
Nottinghamshire Second XI squad to face Essex (from): Paul Franks, Anuj Dal, Sam Wood, Tom Moores, Will Gidman, Tom Keast, Luke Wood, Connor Marshall, Luke Fletcher, Ben Kitt, Jack Blatherwick and Matthew Carter.
The 2015 season saw dramatic last-gasp four day victories, thrilling limited-overs contests and an historic Investec Ashes Test, all in the unique surroundings of Trent Bridge.
This season, we’d wager, will be no less enthralling and frankly we’d hate for you to miss out.