Nottinghamshire will call on centrally-contracted England duo Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann following confirmation that the ECB are happy for them to feature in early-season matches.

Broad will begin playing when he has proved his fitness following the side strain that cut short his ICC Cricket World Cup campaign whilst Swann will feature against Sussex at Hove from Tuesday 10 May and Warwickshire at Trent Bridge from Wednesday 18 May.

Matt Prior (Sussex), Ian Bell (Warwickshire) and Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire) will feature their counties in the respective fixtures against Nottinghamshire.

Broad took eight second-innings wickets as Nottinghamshire cruised to victory over Warwickshire at Edgbaston last July and was the dominant bowler in the LV= County Championship match against Somerset at Trent Bridge in April.