Head Coach Peter Moores says Nottinghamshire are ‘hungry to play’ ahead of their first game of the 2018 season against Lancashire, which starts this morning (Friday, 11am).

The Green and Golds travel to Emirates Old Trafford for their first match back in Specsavers County Championship Division One determined to establish themselves at the higher level following promotion last summer.

Moores, who guided the Red Rose County to the four-day title in 2011, knows a flying start will be far from easy against a team who finished second in the competition in 2017.

But he is pleased with the way his side’s preparations have gone, which have included a bowlers’ camp to Oman, a pre-season tour to Potchefstroom, South Africa and a two-day match in English conditions at neighbours Leicestershire.

“It’s difficult to tell how much of a barometer it will be at Lancashire in terms of how we perform during the season, but we know they will be a good side,” said Moores.

“We just know the importance of the start. Getting momentum into our season is really important.”

“At this time of year it’s a challenge because if you get conditions against you then it can be difficult for the batters. Sometimes the weather can come at the wrong time and it does a little bit, so you have to take that into account.

“Generally, though, we’re ready to play and hungry to play. I feel confident that we have done the work, so we just have to see how we go over the first three games (before the Royal London One-Day Cup defence starts).

“You always want to do well everywhere you go, but when you go back and you know people you definitely do.

“We just know the importance of the start. Getting momentum into our season is really important. You can get some momentum practising outside, but true momentum comes from winning games of cricket, people getting hundreds, five-fers, runs and wickets.

“That’s what we’ve focused on, ourselves, very much like we did last year.”

To add to Notts’ challenge, the first three Championship games of the new campaign are away from Trent Bridge in order that the turf on a portion of the playing surface is relaid after winter building work at the Radcliffe Road End.

Moores believes it is one the players are eager to rise to, with Notts having the benefit of playing their final three four-day games of the season at home.

He said: “You play your seven at home and seven away whoever you are. We’re happy to go and play our first three games away, but we know we are going to have to play well.

“Playing away is not always as easy, but we have got some great grounds to play at – Test match grounds at Old Trafford and Headingley and then a beautiful ground at New Road – so we’re looking forward to it after a long winter and a month practising outside.”

Last season, Essex won 10 out of 14 Division One games to storm to the title just 12 months after winning promotion from Division Two.

“The real goal here is to make sure we’re up for playing every game.”

Moores feels that repeating that feat would be a big ask of Notts and insists the team are not looking too far ahead.

“It would be a great achievement if we did match Essex because we have changed around quite a lot with a new Captain (Steven Mullaney), some new players coming in and some youngsters coming in.

“The real goal here is to make sure we’re up for playing every game – that the 11 blokes who walk out onto the field understand they represent a great club, that it’s a great opportunity for them, that they have a responsibility to themselves, the Members, each other and everybody else and that they have to give it their best shot.

“How well they play, and their form, can vary, but we have got some good players. Getting Ross Taylor for the first half of the season is a real bonus for us, as is having Stuart Broad around for three games from the end of April and Jake Ball coming back in.

“It looks a good team, but like all good teams you need a bit of luck to keep your best players on the park.”

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