Nottinghamshire step up their pre-season preparations this week with a three-day warm-up against Kent, fresh from a successful tour of South Africa.

Although bad weather blighted the start of the trip, the squad were still able to get in plenty of warm weather training and fielding practice, as well as play three 50-over matches against local sides in Pretoria.

Director of Cricket Mick Newell said: “The tour was good and everybody enjoyed some time in the middle with bat and ball.

“We won two of our games and lost the third off the last ball, so I’m pleased with the way things have gone. It was more about match-practice than the results, so in the last game a couple of the lads actually played for the opposition.

“Alex Hales made a good impression in his first spell with the squad while the three young seamers Andrew Carter, Luke Fletcher, and Ian Saxelby also showed promise and will be monitored over the course of the summer.”

Newell has a full squad to choose from for the Kent fixture with the exception of AJ Harris, who pinched a nerve in his back during training.

March 20: Notts v Tuks
Tuks 225-9 (Franks 5-47)
Notts 222-6 (Jefferson 71, Wagh 42, Patel 40)
Tuks won by three runs

March 22: Notts v Soweto
Notts 280-8 (Patel 65, Read 56, Ferley 37)
Soweto 157 (Fletcher 5-13, Patel 3-18)
Notts won by 123 runs

March 24: Notts v Tuks Academy
Tuks Academy 180-6 (Ferley 2-39)
Notts 181-3 (Jefferson 87, Patel 48)
Notts won by seven wickets