With The Hundred just a week away, Lewis Gregory has spoken of the eagerness he feels for the new competition to launch.

The all-rounder will captain Trent Rockets' men's side, having recently starred in England's white-ball whitewash of Pakistan in their One-Day International series.

“I’m thoroughly excited to get cracking with it,” he said.

“It’s a competition that’s been in the works now for 18 months or so because of everything that’s been going on, so I just can’t wait.

“We have a really strong squad, which includes quite a few Notts boys, and it’ll be really thrilling to call Trent Bridge my home ground for four weeks this summer.”

The squad which Gregory talks of includes no fewer than five players who currently wear the green and gold of Nottinghamshire.

Matt Carter, Alex Hales, Steven Mullaney, Samit Patel and Tom Moores will all represent the Rockets this summer, and Gregory is delighted to have them on board.

In particular, he knows the destructive capabilities of Hales all too well.

“I was lucky enough to play alongside Alex in the Pakistan Super League this year, and we got on really well,” he said.

“He’s obviously an unbelievable player, so to be honest I’m quite excited he’s on my side so I don’t have to bowl at him.”

Gregory is also enthused by the ability of another powerful batsman who knows Trent Bridge inside out: Tom Moores.

“He is a great striker of the ball, and is pretty maverick in some of the shots he plays,” he added.

“I’ve seen him start to make his name in franchise cricket over the past couple of winters too, so he’s definitely one I’m expecting to bring that brilliant brand of cricket.”

Spinner Carter, who will partner Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan, also comes in for praise from 29-year-old Gregory.

“I’ve played opposite Carts in the past, and we all know he’s done brilliantly in white ball cricket over the past few years, especially in the powerplay," he said.

“Those powerplay overs are very difficult to bowl, so it’s clear how good he is to be able to do that.

"We’re hopeful we’ll be able to get plenty of use out of him, and I have no doubt he’ll be able to do for us what he’s been doing for the past few years in the Blast.”

Gregory has scored 226 runs and taken 33 wickets on his previous trips to Trent Bridge, across 13 visits to the venue.

Those appearances have whetted his appetite ahead of Nottingham becoming his temporary home this summer.

“I’ve done reasonably well at Trent Bridge in the past when I’ve played there, so that’s quite a boost,” he said.

“It’s undoubtedly a great place to play cricket, especially when you consider the type of wickets that you’ll be playing on there.

“It’s a place I do love playing at, so it really will be a treat to call it home for a bit.”

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