AJ Harris believes Nottinghamshire are approaching the form that saw them claim the Championship title in 2005 - and is ready to play his part having returned to fitness.

LV County Championship Division Two
June 5-8: Glamorgan v Notts

The 33-year-old passed a fitness test on his bruised heel to return to the squad to travel to Swansea and admits it’s been frustrating to watch from the sidelines while the side sweep all before them.

And Harris pinpoints a resurgent batting line-up as the key to their early season form that has seen them secure top spot in Division Two.

He said: “Watching the team from the dressing room, I’d say our batting has been the main strength this year.

“From my perspective, we’ve been making the totals to give the bowlers something to work with - much like in 2004 and 2005.

“Scoring 400 in the first innings on a regular basis is important not just for batting points and establishing a base in a game, but also to allow the bowling attack more of a rest between innings.

“Our batting has been exceptional in all forms of cricket and that’s meant the squad has gone into each game full of confidence.”

Glamorgan were docked eight points for a poor pitch in their first match of the season at Swansea, with Middlesex completing victory inside two days.

But after new covers were brought to St Helens the next Championship match against Essex went the distance, and Notts Director of Cricket Mick Newell refused to let the state of the wicket concern him.

He said: “I expect to see a pitch like that which Essex played on and that was much improved from their first match.

“In any case, we’ll just have to get on with it and the team will be going out there trying to do the same things that have worked well for us so far. Confidence is high and the strength of the team is good.”

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

Looking back at Glamorgan v Notts by Peter Wynne-Thomas