Paul Franks has warned his Nottinghamshire team-mates of the importance of picking up plenty of points as they go into back-to-back Championship matches with Essex and Gloucestershire.

LV County Championship Division Two
July 8-11: Essex v Nottinghamshire
Start time: 11am

Notts go into the fixture at Chelmsford in second place in Division Two after two weather-affected draws and a defeat by Glamorgan.

And while they have a lead of 19.5 points on third-placed Essex, Franks doesn’t want to see any complacency creep in as they continue to chase promotion.

Franks admitted: “The season has felt completely disjointed but we could certainly have done better in the last couple of games before the break for Twenty20.

“We might have got a win against Derbyshire but for the weather and just missed out on chasing down our target at Oakham School against Leicestershire.

“The loss to Glamorgan was the most disappointing moment but it’s important to remember all the good cricket we have played and get switched on again straight away.

“This match will be important as Essex are one of the teams challenging for promotion but we are well aware that any gap we might have on the sides below us could quickly be closed with a couple of wins.”

The 28-year-old has had little involvement in the Twenty20 Cup group matches for the Outlaws, giving him the chance to rest his ankle injury first suffered at Swansea last month.

He added: “That extra period of rest will have given the ankle a chance to settle down. It will be great to get back out playing some cricket again.”

Squad news:
Graeme Swann is included in the squad after his thigh strain ruled him out of their last two Twenty20 Cup group matches.
Rob Ferley is also likely to play in a twin-spin attack, with Director of Cricket Mick Newell short on fast bowling options and Chelmsford traditionally regarded as a dry wicket suited to slow bowlers.
Will Jefferson will not be risked as he continues to recover from a hamstring problem, while AJ Harris is awaiting the results of a knee scan.
Mark Footitt has a slight back injury and is also not being risked.

Squad:
Gallian, Shafayat, Wagh, Fleming (capt), Hussey, Patel, Read (wkt), Ealham, Franks, Swann, Ferley, Francis, Clough.