A serene dressing room and a swashbuckling style of cricket has created remarkable results for Ben Duckett and England in recent months, and the Nottinghamshire top-order batter says the Green and Golds are equipped to embrace the same approach ahead of Somerset’s visit to Trent Bridge.

A 13-man squad has been named for the fixture (13-16 April, 11am), including the return of Stuart Broad.

Olly Stone is rested, whilst Luke Fletcher misses out with ankle soreness. 

Despite Notts falling to defeat against Hampshire in their opening game of the season, Duckett maintains that spirits in the dressing room remained high during the game - and that the Green and Golds’ natural aggressive game will bring about positive results.

“We definitely don’t put too much pressure on ourselves to get wins early on,” Duckett said.

“I think the way we were last week in the dressing room, even when we were up against it, was great. There is no point in tensing up or being nervous, because you set yourself up for failure by doing that.

“The one thing I have learned about the dressing room with the England lads is that we want to enjoy our cricket, and as individuals and a team you have to stay level, which is what we are able to do.”

Duckett and the returning Broad are among a number of players in this week's squad with England or England Lions experience, alongside Haseeb Hameed, Liam Patterson-White and Lyndon James.

Whilst the international exposure helps, Duckett believes the Trent Bridge-based outfit have following a similarly proactive approach for some time.

“It can’t be a bad thing to have so many of us who have experienced that environment,” he said. 

“The learnings the lads have taken over the winter have been really good, but it hasn’t actually changed how we have gone about our business too much. 

“I don’t see the England dressing room as being too different from what we already had here. We look to score quickly, take wickets and do it with a smile on our face. That’s the most important thing, whatever the result is. If you’re not enjoying it, you’re in the wrong sport.”

The focus for the week will also be on ensuring Notts set out their stall as a formidable force at Trent Bridge.

Duckett believes his side must capitalise on their home fixtures in their bid to be successful this year. 

“At Trent Bridge we have been so good in recent years, and we’ll need that again because the good sides in Division One are really tough to beat at their own place,” he said. 

“We have that extra bit of knowledge and experience of playing here. We know it does a bit with the ball and as a batting unit we have agreed that averages might be a little bit lower, but the rate at which we score puts bowlers under pressure. 

“With the ball we always look to take wickets and do the simple things well. If we bowl as well as we did against Hampshire, especially here at Trent Bridge, it will be tough for sides to beat us.”

*******