Read wants Lord's return

Nottinghamshire wicket-keeper Chris Read © Getty Images

England wicket-keeper Chris Read is hoping that a new sponsor for the 50-over domestic competition, in the form of Friends Provident, will inspire Nottinghamshire to make their first appearance in a Lord’s final since 1989.

The likes of Chris Broad, Eddie Hemmings and Tim Robinson were lining up for Notts on the last occasion they went to cricket’s headquarters to win the Benson & Hedges Cup.

And as the Outlaws prepare to launch this year’s campaign on Sunday April 22 with an enticing Trent Bridge clash with Yorkshire Phoenix, Read is determined to play his part in ending the long wait.

Read, now in his 10th season at Trent Bridge, is one of Notts’ longest-serving players.

Having figured in a County Championship triumph in 2005 and the Twenty20 Cup Final last season, his sights are now firmly set on appearing in the showpiece one-day final in August.

He said: “I’ve been lucky enough to be part of a Championship-winning side at Trent Bridge and that feeling is one I want to repeat and I would love to make a trip to London for a Lord’s final.

“Although we’ve been on the up in the last couple of years, we still haven’t won any one-day silverware - but I think we do have a chance of pushing in all three competitions this time.”

Notts have only been to Lord’s on four occasions - twice in the Benson & Hedges Cup and twice in the NatWest Trophy - and Read admits that another trip is well overdue.

He added: “With a bit more luck with the weather, we might have qualified last year, but the introduction of a semi-final stage this season will make it a much more interesting competition because the top two teams in each conference will qualify.

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“We have the talent to go all the way but we must start the campaign well against Yorkshire, and taking on the likes of Darren Gough, Jason Gillespie (left) and Younis Khan will be a good test for us.”

Yorkshire will be captained by Darren Gough and include Chris Gilbert, Andrew Gale, Younis Khan in their squad but England seamer Matthew Hoggard is rested.

Leicestershire Foxes launch their new season at Grace Road on Sunday against Durham Dynamos.

It marks the start of a summer in which Kids Go Free, with Under-16s admitted free of charge to all matches except those in the Twenty20 Cup if they are accompanied by an adult member or a full-paying adult.

On top of that, Leicestershire are opening the Palmer’s Bistro and Bar within the Charles Palmer Suite offering a good selection of food and refreshments.

Menus have been specifically chosen for weekday and Sunday games, as well as light bites for Twenty20 Cup matches, while children are also being catered for with a special offering.

“We want to make cricket at Grace Road a great day out for the whole family, which is why we have taken these important steps to achieve that aim,” said Chief Executive Paul Maylard-Mason.

“Twenty20 cricket has captured the public’s imagination and this is our way of reaching out to those young people and families with our new offering for this season, both in terms of Kids Go Free and the ways in which we are looking to make them feel more welcome.”

The game against Durham – one which will probably see England fast bowler Steve Harmison in action for Durham – will get underway at 10.45am, fast bowler Mark Davies has been added to the Durham squad.

Admission on the day for adults is £12.00, while the price for Over-60s is £6.00. The gates open at 8.45am.

Warwickshire Bears have added Michael Powell to their squad for the visit of Northamptonshire Steelbacks to Edgbaston while Lancashire Lightning entertain Worcestershire Pears.

In the South Division England seamer Simon Jones (left) will play his first competitive match in almost a year in Glamorgan Dragons' game against Somerset Sabres at Taunton.

The England fast bowler has been out injured with knee problems since he broke down playing for the Welsh county against Ireland last May day.

And after knee surgery in the USA last year Jones, who was a major part of England’s Ashes-winning side of 2005 has been on the long road back to recovery.

Two pre-season games against Sussex and Worcestershire have persuaded 28-year-old Jones he is ready for competitive cricket again.

“At the moment I’m just looking to play as much as I can for Glamorgan, but I’m going to look after myself and not push it too much,” said Jones.

“I’m not going to be stupid and play in every single game. I’ve got to ease my way back.

“But the good thing is that I haven’t had any aches or pains in the knee after the games I’ve had.

“People say to me, ‘are you going to come back as good as you were?’ Well we’ll have to wait and see but I’m backing myself.”

If Jones can get some cricket in over the next few weeks he might be available for England’s opening Test match against West Indies at Lord’s starting on May 17.

But the Welsh seamer is not setting any targets in his latest comeback bid.

“We’ll have to see whether May is too soon, but my fitness is good and I’m not worried about anything.

“I’m itching to get back in that arena, but as I’ve said, I’ve been out for a while and no one’s got the right to get back in the side. I’ve got to prove myself again and get games and wickets under my belt.

“I’ve got to push on, bowl more overs and play in four-day games for Glamorgan. Those are the acid tests.”

The match will be a good judge of where Jones is especially as Somerset include the likes of Justin Langer, Marcus Trescothick and Cameron White.

Batsman Neil Dexter and former England seamer Martin Saggers are in Kent Spitfires' 12-man selection to face Surrey Lions at the Brit Oval.

Surrey captain Mark Butcher is a likely to play after a groin injury sustained over two weeks ago in a practice match against Essex but Rikki Clarke will miss the match with a toe injury.

In the other game in the South Division Hampshire Hawks entertain Middlesex Crusaders.