Jake Ball will travel with the Nottinghamshire squad for their pre-season tour to Pochefstroom, South Africa.

The 26-year-old has been away for a large part of the winter, playing in the Ashes and One-Day series in Australia.

With that in mind, Notts’ Head Coach Peter Moores gave Ball the option not to fly out with his county team-mates on Monday for the trip that lasts until 18 March.

However, the Mansfield-born player has declared his desire to be a part of the tour where the Green and Golds are stepping up their preparations ahead of the 2018 season, which begins with a Specsavers County Championship match at Lancashire on 14 April.

“We gave Jake the option, but he wants to go, even though he’s already been away a lot this winter,” said Moores.

“It’s been a little bit where he feels he wants to be, but it’s great that he wants to be back to the lads.

“He will build up through that trip because he’s had a long time away with England followed by a decent break, quite rightly.

“We gave Jake the option, but he wants to go, even though he’s already been away a lot this winter,” said Moores.

“We gave Jake the option, but it’s great that he wants to be back to the lads.” Peter Moores

“Now he’s ready to build things up through the tour ready to play some sort of warm-up games when we get back and hopefully be available for the start of the season.”

While first-team places for the opening game will not be decided in South Africa, Moores is keen to see players get their games in good working order and stake their claims.

He added: “What we say to all the players all the way through the winter is that there’s always a chance to impress, but we’re obviously stepping things up.

“There are always certain names you know will be on the team sheet and there are other places that are up for grabs.

“Though we had a very good season last year, we lost two or three senior players, so that opens it up a little bit, plus we’ve signed a couple of new players.

“They key is to get you game where you want it to be. We will then have a few games when we come back and players will be very keen to get themselves in good nick ready to put themselves up for selection for that first game at Old Trafford.”

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