Nottinghamshire were finally back in training yesterday after a largely frustrating summer of lockdown but spirits were good as the boys headed back to Trent Bridge with Ben Slater saying \u201cIt\u2019s been almost like going back to school\u201d.<\/p>\n
The former Derbyshire batsman now 28 said he felt \u201cexcited, but strange\u201d with him stating \u201cwalking under the stand this morning, knowing Trent Bridge is a very special place to play I feel lucky to back really\u201d.<\/p>\n
Beaming like a Cheshire Cat when asked if happy to be back he said \u201cI\u2019m excited to get this month underway and its nice to hit a few balls\u201d. Slater said \u201cI\u2019ve seen a couple of the lads on the golf course but it\u2019s the closest we\u2019ve got, it\u2019s nice just to be back around normal life and seeing the lads\u201d.<\/p>\n
With a month to go until the likely start of the delayed and shortened season Slater said \u201chaving three months off we\u2019ve got quite a bit of work now in trying to get us back to where we were at the start of pre-season when we were all in really good shape\u201d.<\/p>\n
Another player happy with the return to training was one that only signed for Nottinghamshire earlier in the year. Tom Barber who joined from Middlesex in January has also been frustrated with the delay to the season stating \u201cthe last three months have really been quite tough\u201d saying \u201cI\u2019ve had good days and bad days where sometimes I thought we might not even be playing at all so it\u2019s amazing to be back\u201d.<\/p>\n
The club have today learned that next season (2021) they will be able to field two overseas players in first class counties matches including the County Championship and Royal One Day Cup which brings the selection policy in line with that of the Vitality Blast T20 teams who are already able to choose two overseas \u2018unqualified\u2019 players.<\/p>\n
Finally as the club reflects on the sad death of 50\u2019s and 60\u2019s all-round legend John Springall who has passed away aged 87, all at Nottinghamshire would like to pass on their condolences to John\u2019s family and friends and would also like to wish a very happy Birthday to another legend of the Bridge in Sir Richard Hadlee who is 68 today.<\/p>\n
Whilst Springall scored 5,176 runs and took 80 wickets in his eight seasons at Notts, New Zealander Hadlee famously took 622 wickets in ten years at Trent Bridge whilst totting up 5,854 runs along the way in first class matches, as well as scoring 2,951 runs and 231 wickets in 160 list A games.<\/p>\n
Two iconic legends that will be forever loved and remembered.<\/p>\n