Jake Libby is set to open the batting for Nottinghamshire in the LV= County Championship fixture against Durham starting tomorrow at Trent Bridge.

The 22-year-old has scored five second team centuries since returning from an extensive period of rehabilitation on the knee injury he sustained in Australia during the close season.

With Alex Hales and James Taylor unavailable having been selected by England for the Royal London One-Day Series against Australia, the young cornishman is likely to get his opportunity at the top of the order.

Nottinghamshire Director of Cricket Mick Newell - who called up Libby for the first eleven in a late season fixture against Sussex last season, a match in which he scored a century - says the right-hander has earned his place in the side on both occasions through sheer weight of runs.

“Jake has got to play against Durham,” said Newell. “He’ll get a chance to show what he can do.

“Weight of runs got him in last year and this game has come at a good time with Taylor and Hales out.

“He deserves his chance. It’s like county cricket feeding into England, second team cricket should feed into the first eleven.

“I’m slightly surprised by the volume of runs he’s scored given how long he was out for although, to be fair, he was netting quite a while ago.

“He’s been able to pick a bat up. He’s been hitting balls since April or May.”

Libby grasped his previous first team opportunity by notching a debut century against Sussex, and the Cardiff Metropolitan University graduate was quickly offered his first professional contract.

The serious injury he obtained down under was an ill-timed hammer blow under the circumstances, but Libby has earned high praise for his professionalism during the comeback trail.

“Jon Alty, the Physio, said he’s been the hardest working professional sportsman he’s ever worked with,” said Newell.

“That’s great credit to Jake because Jon has come from football where you get a lot of serious knee and ankle injuries.

“For a former football physio to give a cricketer praise like that, it’s nice to hear.”

In a Nottinghamshire line-up brimming with attacking flair, Newell believes Libby’s resilience and ability to occupy the crease for long periods could be to his and the team’s advantage.

“He’s an old fashioned four day opener and 50-over cricket is also not beyond him by any means,” said Newell.

“He may not be someone that plays too much Twenty20 cricket, but there’s a place on the staff for a player that can play two forms of the game.

“We need to see a lot more of him and hopefully over the next year and a bit we will do that.”

Also in contention for places in the batting line-up are Greg Smith and Michael Lumb, who return to the four day squad having last featured in June and July respectively.

Smith has form on his side having starred with a century in the Royal London One-Day Cup Semi-Final against Surrey, although the 26-year-old’s 124 couldn’t prevent a four run defeat at the Kia Oval.

Newell believes the late season jostle for league positions - and the eagerness of his young players to impress - will ensure that Notts bounce back from their semi-final heartbreak with a vibrant performance against Durham.

“The championship matches are very important; we are currently third, we want to go higher than that and we certainly don’t want to finish any lower, so there’s lots to play for,” he said.

“There’s some young guys who haven’t played in the semi-final who will play on Wednesday and will be desperate to get out there at Trent Bridge and produce a good performance.”

Nottinghamshire squad to face Durham (from):​ Jake Ball, Harry Gurney, Brett Hutton, Jake Libby, Michael Lumb, Steven Mullaney, Samit Patel, Chris Read, Greg Smith, Brendan Taylor, Riki Wessels and Luke Wood. 

 

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