Mick Newell has confirmed that he expects to lose Peter Siddle to Australia for a short period in July or August, but believes he has ample fast bowling cover.
The dates of a three match series in Sri Lanka for the Baggy Greens are still to be confirmed, and the Nottinghamshire Director of Cricket says it’s unlikely he will swoop for overseas cover.
“They’ve got a tour,” Newell confirmed. “Until we get definite dates, we can’t do a lot.
“If it is July, as we think, it’s not a hugely heavy month for us four day wise.
“It wouldn’t be a massive inconvenience. We were always aware tours get added and taken away.
“I doubt we’ll look for cover. We anticipate having enough quick bowlers not to fetch someone in.
“We’ll have games where we have Siddle and Broad, some where we have one and some where we have none.
“I can’t imagine we’ll sign someone for two or three games.”
With the homegrown trio of Jake Ball, Brett Hutton and Luke Wood having enjoyed a breakthrough 2015 season – and the likes of Harry Gurney, Luke Fletcher and Will Gidman also vying for selection – Notts are blessed with something of an embarrassment of riches in the fast bowling department ahead of the new campaign.
Newell also expects to see Stuart Broad during the early part of the season, and the Director of Cricket believes the Outlaws will need all their strength in depth to see them through the season.
“England don’t need him for three months now,” he said on the availability of the world’s number one fast bowler.
“I’d expect him to play a reasonable amount of early games for us.
“We have two home and two away games before the first Test. We know we need numbers and we want to develop bowlers to play multiple formats.”
The 2015 season saw dramatic last-gasp four day victories, thrilling limited-overs contests and an historic Investec Ashes Test, all in the unique surroundings of Trent Bridge.
Next season, we’d wager, will be no less enthralling and frankly we’d hate for you to miss out.