Nottinghamshire Head Coach Peter Moores has paid tribute to the Club’s ground staff for defying the recent wet weather and ensuring facilities at Lady Bay have been fit for outdoor practice.

The first-team players and some from the Academy trained in the light drizzle this morning (Wednesday) ahead of travelling to Emirates Old Trafford for their first game of the new 2018 season against Lancashire, which starts on Friday.

“It’s the wettest pre-season I can remember in the last 30 years.”

That was made possible because, while the outfield was too wet for the proposed Academy match against Lincolnshire to go ahead, a net was set up on the square and in the practice area that allowed both batsman and bowlers to hone their skills.

“It’s the wettest pre-season I can remember in the last 30 years and it seems like it won’t warm up and won’t stop raining,” said Moores.

“But credit to our ground staff because their work has helped us get in the practice we’ve needed ahead of our first game, jumping in between the showers.

“They’ve done that all through pre-season since we’ve got back from Potch (Potchefstroom, South Africa) and we’d like to thank them all for the part they have played.”

Ross Taylor, the Club’s overseas player for the first half of the season, was able to get in some valuable outdoor batting practice having only arrived in England on Monday.

“Ross (Taylor) has had a knock, but, just as importantly, he has settled in really quickly.”

Moores is delighted with the way the New Zealander has immediately integrated with the squad.

He said: “Ross has had a knock, but, just as importantly, he has settled in really quickly. He’s a really experienced player and a fantastic one.

“I think he went to watch Forest with some of the other lads last night to get a flavour of the local sport and then had a decent net today, so he’s ready to go.”

Chris Nash took a blow on his thumb during a net session in the lead-up to last week’s friendly match at Leicestershire that saw him go for a scan to check the severity of the injury.

But there was found to be no break and he has subsequently return to training, meaning he is fit to travel to Manchester.

“Chris (Nash's) thumb has settled down fine, as we thought it would.”

“Chris’ thumb has settled down fine, as we thought it would,” said Moores. “It was a nasty knock at the time, but has proven to be just bruising and he has practised the last couple of days.”

“Generally injury-wise we seem like we’re OK at the moment, barring a few niggles, which of course everyone has, and hopefully that carries on.”

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