Nottinghamshire Assistant Coach Paul Franks has been invited to be part of the coaching team for the ECB's 2018 North-South Series, to be played for the first time in Barbados.

The former Trent Bridge seam bowler will assist ex-England one-day skipper Paul Collingwood as they look to avenge the 3-0 defeat suffered by the North when the inaugural series of the fixture was contested in Dubai and Abu Dhabi earlier this year.

It will be part of a festival of English cricket that will act as a curtain-raiser to the start of the English county season that will also include the fixture between the MCC and champion county Essex.

As winners of the Royal London One-Day Cup, Notts were invited to put forward a coach to take part, with Head Coach Peter Moores and Director of Cricket Mick Newell getting their heads together before asking Franks if he would oblige.

“It’s a great honour to be asked to do it and I’m thoroughly looking forward to it,” said the Mansfield-born 38 year-old, who won his only One-Day International cap against the West Indies in 2000.

“The South won quite comfortably last time, but we’re hoping it will be a much closer contest on this occasion.”

“Any recognition you get as a coach or player is very nice to receive and it’s good of those at Notts to think of me for the role, where I can add to my coaching experience.

“The South won quite comfortably last time, but we’re hoping it will be a much closer contest on this occasion. I’m definitely a northerner, even though the Midlands can be classed as being in between.

“I’ve always thought being north of Watford Gap was meant you were from the north, so I’m definitely in that bracket!”

The North-South Series was launched as part of England’s preparations for hosting the 2019 World Cup and will feature two matches at Bridgetown’s famous Kensington Oval on March 18 and 21, followed by a third at the Three Ws Oval on March 23.

The Kensington Oval will then host the first-class, four-day fixture between an MCC XI and Essex from March 27 to 30, which will be a day-night fixture played with pink Dukes balls.

Mark Ramprakash, the former Middlesex and Surrey batsman who is now England’s batting coach, has been appointed head coach of the South, and will be assisted by Andy Flower – who worked alongside the England assistant coach Paul Farbrace in this year’s series.

The 13-man North and South squads will be finalised by the England selectors, with input from the coaching teams, in December.

Franks added: “It’s going to be great to work with some up and coming players and those who have aspirations to go on and play at a higher level.

“I would expect some of the Nottinghamshire players would hope to be in consideration given the fact that the Club has enjoyed such a successful season where they have put themselves in the shop window.”

 “I have worked with Paul Collingwood before out in the UAE a few years back and we know each other’s way of working well and have a lot of respect for each other, so hopefully we can bring out the best in the North team.”

“It’s great that this series has the backing from Sir Garfield Sobers.”

The fixtures have been welcomed by one of the greatest of Barbados cricketers, Sir Garfield Sobers – who is delighted the announcement has been made to coincide with the second Royal London One-Day International between England and West Indies at Trent Bridge, his home county ground with Nottinghamshire.

That sentiment is echoed by Franks, who was a proud County Championship winner with Notts in 2010.

“It’s great that this series has the backing from Sir Garfield Sobers who I would say rates as one of the greatest if not the greatest of players,” said Franks.

“It’s fantastic to be involved in matches played in his home town, just as it is fantastic that he is part of the history of my home county Club.”

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The world’s best are heading to Trent Bridge in 2018 for a trio of international fixtures. Register your interest to receive priority booking here.