Nottinghamshire Outlaws are back in T20 Vitality Blast action this week but will be without their captain Dan Christian who has been selected to play for Australia during their limited overs series tour in the West Indies.

Stepping into the captains shoes will be red ball skipper Steven Mullaney who will lead the sides challenge in retaining the trophy they won last year with a first white ball game of this summer at Worcestershire Rapids tonight before hosting Birmingham Bears at Trent Bridge on Friday evening.

Notts sit third in the LV=Insurance County Championship Group 1 after a recent draw at Essex but the side are only five points behind leaders Warwickshire as they end focus on the longer format to draw attention on to a trophy they won last season when they beat Surrey in the final at Edgbaston.

Ahead of matchday, Coach Peter Moores stated “We are all looking forward to starting the competition because it is a format in which we have done really well in the past few years and have reached the latter stages consistently.”

“It’s important to us to be a competitive T20 side and we have been very focussed on making sure we are ready this year.”

Without Christian, along with Imad Wasim of last seasons team and Harry Gurney who retired ahead of the summer, Moores said “There are multiple trophy winners in this side, which is exciting. They are used to winning and being successful.”

“We have some young players who have a lot of T20 experience, but we also possess senior statesmen. It’s a great blend and a talented group who are hungry for more accolades.”

“We will miss people like Dan Christian, who have been a hugely instrumental part of our T20 campaigns, but it will create an opportunity for others to enter the fray.”

“Whoever comes into the team will have a lot of experience around them, senior heads who can help them settle down and play their best cricket.”

The Outlaws squad to face Worcestershire later today is as follows: Jake Ball, Sol Budinger, Matt Carter, Joe Clarke, Ben Duckett, Luke Fletcher, Alex Hales, Calvin Harrison, Lyndon James, Tom Moores, Steven Mullaney, Dane Paterson, Samit Patel, Peter Trego.

Meanwhile good news for leg spinner Calvin Harrison who signs for the club after impressing in a trial, the Oxford University star impressed during a pre-season game against Notts and has been given a three month contract at Trent Bridge.

*Main image @TrentBridge Dan Christian has earned a call up for Australia at the ripe old age of 38.