Chris Read is hoping that a change of sponsor for this summer’s 50-over competition will inspire Nottinghamshire to make their first appearance in a Lord’s final since 1989.

Friends Provident Trophy
April 22: Notts Outlaws v Yorkshire Phoenix
Start time: 10.45am
Tickets £13 for adults and £7 for concessions, with a family ticket for two adults and two under-16s costing £33.

The likes of Chris Broad, Eddie Hemmings and Tim Robinson were lining up for Notts on the last occasion they went to cricket’s headquarters to win the Benson & Hedges Cup.

And as the Outlaws prepare to launch this year’s campaign in the new Friends Provident Trophy on Sunday with an enticing Trent Bridge clash with Yorkshire Phoenix, Read is determined to play his part in ending the long wait.

The England wicketkeeper, now in his 10th season at Trent Bridge, is one of Notts’ longest-serving players. And having figured in a County Championship triumph in 2005 and the Twenty20 Cup Final last season, his sights are now firmly set on appearing in the showpiece one-day final in August.

He said: “I’ve been lucky enough to be part of a Championship-winning side at Trent Bridge and that feeling is one I want to repeat and I would love to make a trip to London for a Lord’s final.

“Although we’ve been on the up in the last couple of years, we still haven’t won any one-day silverware - but I think we do have a chance of pushing in all three competitions this time.”

Notts have only been to Lord’s on four occasions - twice in the Benson & Hedges Cup and twice in the NatWest Trophy - and Read admits that another trip is well overdue.

He added: “With a bit more luck with the weather, we might have qualified last year, but the introduction of a semi-final stage this season will make it a much more interesting competition because the top two teams in each conference will qualify.

“We have the talent to go all the way but we must start the campaign well against Yorkshire, and taking on the likes of Darren Gough, Jason Gillespie and Younis Khan will be a good test for us.”

Past meetings by Peter Wynne-Thomas:
This is the first time Yorkshire have played at Trent Bridge in this competition under its various guises since its inception in 1963. Last season’s match at Headingley was completely washed out.

The four previous Notts v Yorkshire games, all away from home, have all ended in defeat for Notts.

Injury news: Mick Newell is keeping his options open ahead of the game, with Will Jefferson's hamstring due for another fitness test ahead of the toss.

AJ Harris may also have recovered from his foot injury, while Rob Ferley and Gareth Clough are included to cover for different pitch conditions.

Squad: Gallian, Jefferson, Shafayat, Wagh, Hussey (capt), Patel, Read (wkt), Ealham, Franks, Swann, Sidebottom, Shreck, Harris, Ferley, Clough.