Will Gidman believes the LV= County Championship First Division is wide open as Nottinghamshire commence their seventh match of the competition on against Somerset on Sunday.

The 30-year-old expects as many as five counties to still be challenging for the title come the end of the season, and he hopes the recent victory against Sussex can ignite the Trent Bridge county's challenge.

"We've not had the best of starts in the county championship, with one win, two draws and three defeats," he said. 

"Overall it has been a strange old start as there have been some big scores for the time of the year when normally you think of green pitches and overcast weather in April and May. 

"We played on flat wickets in the opening two games and then when we went to Hampshire it did a bit more but it ended in a draw. 

"When we did get to play on a couple of result pitches it didn't go our way, but we got our first win of the season last week when we beat Sussex by 159 runs so hopefully that can kickstart us. 

"I do think we have been playing some good cricket but not getting any luck," the all-rounder continued.

"At the moment everyone seems to be beating each other and that sums up the league. 

"I don't think anyone could have predicted with any certainty at the start who would win it as you have nine very good sides. 

"I think it will be a topsy-turvy campaign and you might have three, four or even five teams pushing for the title at the end.

"It will be the sides with the best squads who will be up there challenging. You will have injuries or even England call-ups to deal with, but I think if you have the right camaraderie and strength in depth then you will get through it. 

"I have a lot of respect for Yorkshire who have been regularly missing players for the last 18 months but have still managed to play a consistent brand of cricket."

Gidman played a crucial role in the recent victory over Sussex. His first innings half-century helped rescue Mick Newell's men from a desperate position of 55-6, helping them post a competitive 255, which was critical to the outcome of the match.

It was the former Gloucestershire man's highest score since moving from the west country, a move Gidman believes will benefit his career.

"This is my first season at Notts after joining from Gloucestershire and I have to admit it was a move that was a mixture of daunting and exciting," he said.

"Notts are renowned as a side with a strong squad boasting international players and my aim was just to fit in as quickly as possible.

"But I have been given a great welcome and felt at home very quickly. I'm learning so much training and playing alongside so many great players and it's terrific to play at Trent Bridge which must be one of the best cricket grounds in the world. It was just an opportunity I couldn't turn down."

 

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