Peter Moores believes his team are well positioned to fight back from a ‘frustrating’ display against Lancashire and finish the first block of LV= Insurance County Championship fixtures well placed. 

Ben Martindale and Tom Loten are included in the matchday squad for the first time as Nottinghamshire travel to Northamptonshire (Thursday 11 - Sunday 14 May, 11am start).

Olly Stone is sidelined as he awaits the result of scans to an injured hamstring, with Tom Moores undergoing a further x-ray to a finger injury as his recovery continues.

Jake Ball, meanwhile, is continuing his rehabilitation from a groin injury with regular assessment. 

Notts ground out a draw in their most recent clash against the Red Roses, as Joe Clarke, Brett Hutton and Stuart Broad staved off a threatening visiting attack to share the spoils on the final day. 

Moores believes it was the first game of the season in which the Green and Golds failed to exhibit their capabilites, but that salvaging a draw will give his side extra impetus. 

“We were slightly off the boil at Trent Bridge, we’ll be the first to admit that,” he said. 

“But we came out of it with a draw against a very good side, and that was really important. 

“Our backs were against the wall and we showed grit and resilience to fight back, and credit has to go to Joe and Brett particularly in that fourth innings in particular.

“But Hass’ [Hameed] first innings knock was equally important, and we saw all our bowlers make contributions at different points, as they have done all season.

“It’s about bringing all those performances together at once, which we know we are capable of - we’ve been doing that well for two years.”

Stepping back and taking stock, Moores is able to reflect on the start of Nottinghamshire’s first season back in Division One with a good deal of positivity. 

Having come out on the wrong side of a low-scoring game against Hampshire in the first game, Notts responded with a win against Somerset and largely dominated their clash at Lord’s against Middlesex before the hosts succeeded in their fourth-innings chase. 

“When you look at the bigger picture, we’ve probably won most of the sessions we have played this season,” he said, “but the next challenge is winning the big moments where a game can swing quickly.

“What we’ve done well for a period of time is not releasing that pressure on the opposition; we have been relentlessly consistent. We did that against Somerset, and against Middlesex for three days. 

“Then we took the bold option in pursuit of points; we risked losing five points to be 16 points better off. It made for exciting cricket, and on another day chances would have gone to hand and we would have been celebrating.

“When you follow that passage of play with the game against Lancs, you could feel a bit flat. But, actually, we are sixth in the table with a chance to push on over the next two games. That is a strong position to be in, and that is how we are looking at it.”

And there are plenty of in-form performers to encourage Nottinghamshire ahead of their trip to Northamptonshire. 

Hutton is fourth in the Division One wicket taking standings with 18 at 17.78, whilst both Luke Fletcher and Dane Paterson are averaging fewer than 20 with the ball.

Ben Duckett is the fifth top run-scorer in the division with 362, with his opening partner Haseeb Hameed having made three fifties already this season. 

“There is a lot to suggest we aren’t far away from clicking, and actually Northants is a nice springboard for us to rebuild momentum,” Moores said. 

“We have to be on it every session, and string together spells of pressure, but that is what we do well. It’s a case of returning to our principles.

“As a team, we are very together. There is a lot of backing and trust in each other because of what has gone before in recent years. Every player in the dressing room has shown they are capable of putting their hand up and winning matches. 

“The appetite to get another victory on the board is really strong, and we’ll go to the County Ground aware of the threat Northants pose, but confident that we can come away with a good result.”

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