Stuart Broad MBE has collected as many gongs at Buckingham Palace as he has done traditional county pre-season’s in the last decade, but that’s about to change.

The 30-year-old’s non-stop international schedule means opportunities to taste the out-of-season camaraderie of the gym, running sessions and Trent Bridge’s indoor school have been scarce throughout his Nottinghamshire career.

But with England not in Test action until July, Broad, his MBE freshly collected from HRH the Prince of Wales, is back with Notts and ready to throw himself into it.

"I've got a great period now with no Test cricket until July," Broad told ESPN Cricinfo.

"I haven't had that for about eight or nine years, so I'm looking forward to the next period of time, doing my pre-season with Notts, heading over to Barbados, and setting high standards for myself come July."

The upshot is that Nottinghamshire could well see plenty of Broad in 2017, in the Specsavers County Championship and Royal London One-Day Cup, particularly during the opening three months of the season.

Then, he’ll stride out for England on home turf again in July, with South Africa visiting Nottingham for the first time since 2003. It's a special series according to the number eight bowler in the world, who famously gunned down the Proteas with 6-17 last winter.

"South Africa are always a tough team, that's what made winning in South Africa so special," he said.

"I've played in two series against them at home, they beat us in 2008, when I got dropped towards the end of the series, then Hashim Amla got a triple at The Oval [in 2012] and they beat us in that series too.

"They are always great competitors, very skillful in our conditions, and that makes this summer a huge one.

“It's important for us to get back to winning ways after a tough tour of India.

“Everyone expected that - five back-to-back with no warm-ups was going to be tricky - but England in our own conditions, at grounds that we are used to and where we have very good records, should encourage us to really take South Africa on.

"We've got a lot to get through but we are building a team that can challenge Australia in Australia. I spent some time there and there's no doubt they are formidable in their own conditions, but we have players of the likes of Root and Stokes, Jos Buttler's such a dangerous talent with the bat, and Moeen Ali too.

"These are guys who are delivering on the big stage, plus a few senior guys who've been there and done that. We are growing as a team and this will be an exciting Test team to follow over the next few years."

The ‘Stuart Broad and Friends’ Charity Dinner, at Trent Bridge on Friday 12 May is now on sale.

The showpiece event in the Derek Randall Suite follows a successful equivalent event in 2016, which raised over £10,000 for a combination of the Broad Appeal and the Trent Bridge Community Trust.

Stuart will take to the microphone to provide entertainment alongside special guests.

Places for the showpiece event are priced at £90 per person (inclusive of VAT), or tables of ten for £900.

Guests will be treated to a drinks reception, followed by four course fine dining and entertainment.

With the Broad Appeal raising funds and awareness for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, and the Trent Bridge Community Trust changing the lives of disadvantaged young people in Nottinghamshire, those that attend will be supporting a pair of fantastic causes.

The evening will conclude with a charity auction featuring money can’t buy prizes with all proceeds split between the two charities.

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