HUTTON & WOOD IN THE RUNNING FOR MIDDLESEX SHOWDOWN

Nottinghamshire Director of Cricket Mick Newell has bolstered his side’s seam bowling options for the trip to Middlesex, by adding Brett Hutton and Luke Wood to the squad.

The homegrown duo joins Stuart Broad, Jake Ball, Jackson Bird and Harry Gurney in the 13-man party with four of the six likely to feature in the Lord’s showdown.

Nottinghamshire are top of the table heading in to their fourth match of the season, with Middlesex occupying fourth position having drawn each of their matches so far.

Opening batsman Steven Mullaney, who is averaging 46 during the season so far, is expecting a surface at the Home of Cricket that is full of runs.

“We’re bowling fantastically and we go there full of confidence, but our batting needs to improve," he said.

“There has been a lot of runs scored there, so it would be good if our batsmen can spend some time in the middle and put them under some pressure.”

Notts limbered up for their fixture in the capital by sharing the spoils in a thrilling televised fixture against Yorkshire.

Reducing the reigning champions to clinging on grimly for a draw, having half an hour previously looked in danger of slipping to defeat, furthered Mullaney’s belief that – come the fourth innings of any game – Notts are capable of winning form any position. 

“It was a great spectacle of four-day cricket, especially with the way the last day ebbed & flowed, and if we had a couple more overs, we probably would have got over the line,” said the 29-year-old.

“Our results in the second half of last year were fantastic. We have developed great confidence that, no matter what the position going in to the last innings, we always have a chance.

“Last year we bowled Durham out in a session to win, so we always believe.

“We are top of the league after three rounds; we can’t be any higher, it’s certainly better than being at the bottom. Hopefully we’ll still be there in 13 games time.”

Nottinghamshire captain Chris Read, who scored a century against Middlesex in the corresponding fixture last season, says that – even in his 20^th season as a professional – Lord’s remains a special destination.

“It’s always competitive down there,” he said. "I love playing at Lord’s. The boys will be buzzing to be back down in the big smoke and playing at the Home of Cricket.

“We know Middlesex are a competitive team, we’ve got some old friends down there, Adam Voges and the like.

“Every week is a challenge and we’ll meet it head on. We had a good game down there last year, when we had the better of the first innings and couldn’t quite force a victory on the last day with the ball.

“I think we’re due some good weather over the weekend so that will be nice.”

The Division One table couldn’t be tighter at the moment, with only nine points separating all nine sides but Notts sit proudly at the top, although Newell isn’t reading too much into it just yet.

“It’s nice to be at the top, it’s certainly better than being at the bottom – we had periods last season where we were at the bottom.

“I think we’re playing some pretty good cricket for the most part but we know we can get better. The key for us is to play well consistently and that’s something we’ll be talking about before we get to Lord’s.”

Voges will miss the match as he recovers from concussion following the freak head injury he suffered in the drawn game against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl.

The former Australia batsman was struck on the back of the head while fielding in the slips when he turned his back on a throw from the boundary by substitute Ollie Rayner to turn his attention to setting the field.

He took no further part in the game and has already been ruled out of Sunday’s match, but is expected to be cleared for the London derby against Surrey at the Kia Oval a week on Sunday.

Voges played for Notts between 2008 and 2012, scoring 2,736 first-class runs at an average of 45 and hitting four centuries, including one in his only championship match against Middlesex.

Steve Eskinazi, the South Africa-born batsman with a British passport, could replace the world’s number seven batsman following a recent century for the Second XI.

Nottinghamshire squad to face Middlesex (from): Chris Read, Jake Ball, Jackson Bird, Stuart Broad, Harry Gurney, Alex Hales, Brett Hutton, Michael Lumb, Steven Mullaney, Samit Patel, Chris Read, Greg Smith, Riki Wessels, Luke Wood.