After a couple of training sessions and a brief period to acclimatise, Notts Outlaws kick off their 2016 programme of fixtures on familiar territory.

On Sunday they will be defending their Barbados T20 Cup crown, a title they have won in each of the last three years.

The competition returns to the major venue on the island, the world-famous Kensington Oval and the semi final draw has pitted the Outlaws against Hampshire, with the match to be played on Sunday morning (10.00am local time, 2pm in the UK).

Northants will face Barbados in the first semi final, which will be played at Kensington on Saturday (2.00pm local time, 6pm in the UK).

The two losing semi finalists will contest the Plate Final and the main Final will begin at 6.00pm (local time, 10pm in the UK).

Sadly, with other popular hot-spot destinations, like Abu Dhabi and Dubai, also competing to host pre-season tours, the Barbados T20 Cup has been hit by a reduction in the number of entrants this year with as many as eight teams taking part in the past.

“It’s one of the things that we’ll be talking to the people here about," said Mick Newell. “As we have always said ‘If the cricket facilities are right, then we’ll keep coming’ and so far they’ve never let us down.

“I think there’s probably a maximum number of English counties that they can cope with, given the number of grounds here but I could see it getting back up to maybe six counties coming again. I think that could still work well.”

Whilst the Outlaws’ wait for a first domestic T20 crown goes on, they have looked a strong unit in winning this event on three separate occasions, having defeated Derbyshire in the 2013 event and Northants in each of the past two years.

The Director of Cricket added: “We’ve enjoyed ourselves here, playing in finals, playing under floodlights and winning in one of the world’s most iconic cricket grounds. It’s a nice feeling and one that we’d like to experience again.”

Newell has named a squad of 13 players for the competition, with Chris Read, Brendan Taylor, Will Gidman and Jack Blatherwick watching on from the sidelines.

 

Notts Outlaws squad for the Barbados T20:  Matthew Carter, Anuj Dal, Luke Fletcher, Harry Gurney, Brett Hutton, Ben Kitt, Jake Libby, Michael Lumb, Steven Mullaney, Greg Smith, Riki Wessels, Luke Wood and Sam Wood.