March 2013 saw all eyes firmly set on the upcoming start to the domestic season, with a packed programme of warm-up matches and training geared toward fine-tuning aspects of each player’s game.
The majority of the month was dominated by what has become the club’s customary tour of Barbados. Before departing, Mick Newell named a 17-man squad, including prospects Sam Wood, Sam Kelsall and Adam Tilcock.
One player missing from the tour was Samit Patel who was playing for the Chevrolet Warriors in South Africa’s domestic t20 competition.
Notts won their first accolade of the season early, sealing the Barbados T20 Cup at the Kensington Oval with victory over Derbyshire.
This followed a five-wicket semi-final win over Yorkshire, and a convincing win over Northants in the first fixture of the tour.
A change to red-ball cricket followed, with a two-day friendly against Derbyshire, which ultimately ended a draw.
Michael Lumb was the star in a good final day to their second warm-up, this time against Yorkshire, scoring 82 from 152 deliveries, after Graeme White impressed with the ball in the first innings.
Palpable relief after sealing a draw for England
There were also Nottinghamshire heroics across the world from Barbados, with Stuart Broad defying all odds to help England seal an unlikely draw against New Zealand.
Back in Nottingham, work neared completion on Trent Bridge’s second replay screen, in partnership with Nottinghamshire County Council.