Nottinghamshire seamer Luke Fletcher cannot wait to operate alongside new overseas signings Vernon Philander and Ben Hilfenhaus at Trent Bridge this season.
Kevin Howells (BBC radio)
They've got to stop running out of steam. Injuries play a part of course and I'm very disappointed for Michael Lumb but Brendan Taylor should be a very good signing, and the same goes for Will Gidman.
David Fulton (Sky Sports News)
Philander early season at Trent Bridge, then a bit of Hilfenhaus, and you think jeepers they’re decent. I guess they might lose Hales and maybe Taylor but still plenty of runs there. I’m going to take them to come second behind…wait and see!
When Nottinghamshire announced the overseas signings of Ben Hilfenhaus and Vernon Philander in December, Luke Fletcher was as excited as anyone.
Securing the services of senior international pacemen in first-class cricket has been on Notts’ agenda in recent years, with Australian Hilfenhaus and South African Philander following in the footsteps of Peter Siddle.
Luke Fletcher talking to the media. pic.twitter.com/ubxfqAApIV
— Callum Dent (@cdent31) April 2, 2015
The latter had a huge impact at Trent Bridge, taking 37 LV= County Championship wickets in 11 Division One matches, but was unable to complete the 2014 campaign due to international commitments with Australia.
The loss of Siddle coupled with an injury to veteran seamer Andre Adams left a lack of experience in Notts’ attack, meaning they had to settle for a fourth-placed finish in the top flight.
Knowing that experience was vital throughout an entire season, Notts director of cricket Mick Newell moved quickly to capture Philander for the start of the term before Hilfenhaus’ arrival in June, signings that Fletcher “buzzed off”.
Relishing the prospect of operating in the same attack as the highly-rated duo, Fletcher told ecb.co.uk:“I can’t wait to bowl with Philander. I played with Siddle last year, which I thought was brilliant. I loved Siddle, he was a great bloke.
“It would be nice if Ben Hilfenhaus and Vernon Philander are just as good blokes as he was, then we will have a good season.”
The second of three team photos for Notts this morning. pic.twitter.com/IkaOM5DY3W
— Callum Dent (@cdent31) April 2, 2015
It is not only in four-day cricket where Notts will be boosted by world-class players.
The Outlaws have also snared West Indian Darren Sammy, one of international cricket’s biggest characters, for the NatWest T20 Blast.
The 31-year-old recently shared a dressing room with Notts batsman Alex Hales at Big Bash League franchise Hobart Hurricanes and Fletcher cannot wait to rub shoulders with the big-hitting all-rounder.
Fletcher, one of the heartbeats of the Notts dressing room, said: “I have been having a bit of banter with him on Twitter, which was quite nice.
“Halesy has been playing with him at the Hurricanes so he has said he is a great bloke and will be good for our changing room.
“I’m sure he will put a few bums on seats because he is a character.”
Nottinghamshire media day https://t.co/vHLluFPB57
— Callum Dent (@cdent31) April 2, 2015
The arrivals of Philander and Hilfenhaus plus Will Gidman from Gloucestershire has swelled Notts’ bowling attack, which already consisted of Fletcher, Harry Gurney,Andy Carter, Luke Wood, Brett Hutton and Jake Ball.
The 26-year-old said: “It is a strong time for the club, with the new signings and the young lads that have come through like Jake Ball, Brett Hutton and Luke Wood, who are now in contention to play first-team cricket.
“That puts pressure on people like myself, Harry Gurney and Will Gidman to perform and stay in the side. That can only be a good thing for Mick Newell and the club.”
Nottinghamshire
Captain: Chris Read (LV= County Championship), James Taylor (NatWest T20 Blast and Royal London One-Day Cup)
Director of cricket: Mick Newell
In: Will Gidman (Gloucestershire), Jake Libby (youth), Greg Smith (Leicestershire), Vernon Philander (South Africa), Ben Hilfenhaus (Australia), Darren Sammy (West Indies), Brendan Taylor (Zimbabwe)
Out: Phil Jaques (released), Andre Adams (Hampshire), Sam Kelsall (released), Ajmal Shahzad (Sussex)