Selections meetings are nothing new for Steven Mullaney, but ahead of Nottinghamshire’s opening LV= Insurance County Championship clash against Hampshire, the Club Captain has admitted his most recent has been the hardest in his time at the helm.

He and Peter Moores have opted for a 14-man squad for the clash in Southampton, including winter recruit Olly Stone who will make his competitive debut for the Green and Golds if picked. 

But Notts’ strength in depth is much more a blessing than a curse, and Mullaney’s men are fully aware of the role everyone will have to play across an arduous season if his side are to be successful.

“It has 100% been the hardest selection I have ever had to make,” Mullaney said. 

“Myself and Pete had conversations for about a month in the lead up to the game assuming no one got injured, and no one has. 

“We’ve ultimately picked the squad that we think will give us the best chance of winning this game, but we easily could have included others who would have made us just as competitive.

“I think if you want to win the Championship you need depth, especially in the bowling ranks, and we still have Stuart Broad to be brought back in which’ll make selection harder. 

“All the bowlers had a meeting last week in which they said that they knew selection would be tough, and whoever is picked they all back.

“We know it is going to take a squad to help us achieve our goals and that is finishing as high as possible.”

Mullaney will begin his sixth summer as captain at The Ageas Bowl, a tenure which has brought no shortage of drama. 

A red ball reset resulted in Division Two triumph last season after the Green and Golds were dubbed as favourites to lift the trophy before a ball was bowled. 

Now back in the top tier, Mullaney is nonplussed about external noise, with focus firmly on what Notts can achieve this season and beyond. 

“All I have focused on is Hampshire, as cliche as that sounds,” Mullaney said, “every team is strong and we are going to have to play well to win any game. 

“That said, we have stuck to our 80/20 rule of focusing mostly on ourselves, whilst doing our due diligence with the opposition. 

“We will go through their side, have a look at what threats they pose and where they are strong, and we’ll have a look at the ground to see what the best options are in terms of batting and bowling first, but ultimately I want the team to go out there and enjoy it. 

“The 11 who take to the field need to embrace the opportunity, because there will be a lot of good players on the sideline.”

And with a four-day campaign concluding at home to Middlesex in a touch under sixth months, Mullaney is clear on what he expects to see before then. 

“I try not to put too much pressure on myself or anybody else, but we are all excited,” he said.

“We have done the work now so it is a case of going out there, showing what we’ve got and hopefully that will be good enough.”