Second team coach Paul Franks is urging his young players to finish the season on a high when they face Middlesex in the Second Eleven Championship starting on Monday.

Nottinghamshire’s Seconds have gone through their ten-match season Championship unbeaten, with the bowling department earning the most bonus points in the North Division.

And Franks believes their route to the final has been the culmination of the hard work put in over the past couple of years.

“We finished second in our group last year and getting to the final this year is a culmination of a lot of hard work from the players,” he said.

“Last year was my first in charge and the players have responded really well to what we have tried to do over these two years.

“Bowling has always been one of our strengths with our seam bowling department well stocked in the pro department and that is no different throughout all the Nottinghamshire teams straight through to the academy.

“This year we have always had a senior member of the bowling unit from the first team available to give guidance to the younger players.

“One of the only areas of concern has been batting in the first innings where we haven’t scored as many runs as we would have liked but the players have acknowledged that as something we need to iron out over the next few weeks.”

Franks’ squad has been the launch pad for the likes of Brett Hutton and Luke Wood to secure their first team places over the past year.

With Will Root and Ben Kitt starring throughout 2015 Franks has even more reason to be proud moving forward.

“It is my job to develop people who are used to winning games of cricket so that when Mick comes looking we have players who are used to winning and can perform in first team cricket,” he said.

“Thankfully we have seen that with the likes of Luke and Brett going on to establish themselves and Matt Carter has also marked his name quite spectacularly and he will offer the first team a lot moving forward.

“Ben Kitt has been ever present for us this year with the majority of his bowling spells going unrewarded but the five wicket haul against Yorkshire showed how well he can bowl.

“I could go on and on about what I think about these boys but like I said at the start of the season, we have a lot of talent to work with in the squad.

“I was keeping a close eye on who I thought we might be playing when it looked like we were going to be in contention and Middlesex are a strong side.

“With the game being over four days instead of three, it gives more time for the best side to come out on top and we will have to focus on holding our catches and batting and bowling better than our opponents.” 

 

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