Nottinghamshire all-rounder Steven Mullaney is keeping his fitness ticking over during the winter break with a short spell playing out in Australia.
The 2017 NatWest T20 Blast, Royal London One-Day Cup and Specsavers County Championship promotion winner enjoyed a welcome break with his family in Lanzarote during October after a hectic season concluded at the end of September.
But now the long-serving 30-year-old is stepping things up ahead of the 2018 campaign by turning out for Victorian Premier Cricket side Dandenong CC.
The two-week stint has been arranged with the help of Pattinson brothers, James and Darren, who have both represented Nottinghamshire.
“I’ve just come out for a couple of weeks because I had the chance to play a few T20 games and a one-day game,” said Mullaney, who will stay with this summer’s overseas player, James.
“Any opportunity to play some cricket at this time of year is a bonus.”
“It’s just a chance to get out and train outdoors in the sunshine in the lead up to Christmas and work hard at my fitness.
“Any opportunity to play some cricket at this time of year is a bonus because you can’t do quite as much indoors.
“It’s great training at Trent Bridge with Mooresy (Peter Moores) and Franksy (Paul Franks), but they’re both quite happy for people to go overseas if it’s going to help their winter programme.”
Mullaney’s spell has started well, taking 4-52 in a home victory over Kingston Hawthorn as the hosts scored 237-6 in reply to the visitors’ 234-8.
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