Shreck signs new two year deal

Nottinghamshire bowler Charlie Shreck has signed a two year contract extension, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2010 season.

A consistent performer since his arrival at Trent Bridge in 2003, Shreck, 30, has already made a big contribution to Notts’ LV County Championship campaign and will face a heavy workload during the absence of Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad who will spend the summer on England duty.

“Charlie has been the mainstay of our bowling attack for five years and I am delighted that he has chosen to commit his future to the club,” said Notts Director of Cricket Mick Newell.

“I know that his inclusion in the England squad has been discussed very seriously and the opportunity may come his way but his priority is to do well for Notts.

“Charlie has performed well for England Lions and he can play his way into contention for the national side.

“His contract was due to expire at the end of the season but both parties were keen to agree a new deal as early as possible and I am pleased that it has been concluded.”

Shreck missed the 2005 campaign after suffering a stress fracture of his back but found good form in 2006, taking 50 wickets for the first time, including two ten-wicket hauls and a hat-trick against Middlesex at Lord’s.

He made his Notts debut in 2003 having arrived on the first-class scene following several years on the Minor Counties circuit with Cornwall and spent the winter in New Zealand where he played for Wellington.

“I was very keen to extend my contract and there is nowhere else that I would rather play than Trent Bridge,” said Shreck.

“Looking around on a match day, it’s clear to see that the club is taking massive steps forwards with the ground developments and the playing squad and management are first class.

“Ryan Sidebottom had three consecutive 50 wicket seasons at Notts before he got back into the England side and the key for me is to stay fit and take wickets consistently.”

Shares for sale

Nottingham, this season’s surprise package in First Division Rugby, believes it has all the credentials to mount a serious push for promotion to the Guinness Premiership for the upcoming season – 2008/09.

Having finished joint second to Northampton Saints last year - and the only team to take two bonus points off them in the process - the club is confident that with the right level of investment to improve the talented (and young) squad coached by Director of Rugby Glenn Delaney, the sky is the limit!

Having split into amateur and professional sections to create Nottingham Rugby Ltd, the club is embarking on controlled fundraising including a limited sale of shares and presents a great opportunity for entrepreneurs who have a love of the game and who would relish the opportunity of becoming actively involved in a go ahead and vibrant company with genuine aspirations to join the elite clubs in the Premiership.

"The directors believe the club is valued at £4m and is debt free, and whilst we have had a good initial response locally we recognise the opportunity may be attractive to other potential investors from further afield," said Chief Executive Ken Grundy.

"The working capital we secure will be spent on strengthening our squad to put us in a position to really challenge for promotion and to invest in a marketing campaign focusing on increasing match day attendances at Meadow Lane which is a fantastic venue for rugby."

If you are interested in learning more about this unique opportunity, please contact Ken Grundy on (07887) 757722 or Geoff Huckstep, Chairman, on (07802) 956065

Maintaining the harmony

COLIN Calderwood has re-iterated Nottingham Forest’s transfer policy this summer will not upset the current

harmony of the squad’s team spirit.

The Reds manager feels a lot of the momentum of the impressive final run into promotion was down to a young and upbeat dressing room that became stronger over the course of the season.

But four first team players’ futures are set to be decided in the weeks ahead with Kris Commons and Sammy Clingan set to negotiate new deals and Paul Smith and Matt Lockwood potentially exiting the club as new players sign.

Goalkeeping and forward cover has been particularly identified as areas for change but Calderwood confirmed new blood will be looked for without dismantling the foundations of the side.

He said: “We need someone to put Paul under a little bit more pressure. He’s very calm and done his job exceedingly well but starting from next season we would be looking to start with a goalkeeper on the bench.”

“We’ve built a foundation here. The players look like they’ve got potential because of their age. The next question is how good are we as a group in the Championship.”

“If the going gets tough we’ll stick together and that only comes from having good times because if you only have bad times the doubts and negatives feelings then it becomes it’s very easy to become splintered and selfish and more of an in individual.”

“And I think what the team showed was that individual performances dropped and team performances grew.”

“Team knowledge has developed, we’ve always had quite good spirit and feeling about the players I think we’ve just developed emotionally. What some of those players have gone through from Yeovil one season to the Yeovil the next are probably the two extremes in football.”

The Scotsman also highlighted experienced players will be sought over the next couple of months but not necessarily from the higher divisions.

He added: “I wouldn’t put a number on the signings but they’ll all be important additions.”

“We’ve been viewing at all levels who we might bring to the club, and I think it’s important that we don’t just focus on big signings and the I think the supporters should have faith in our scouting process because I think it’s proved very very fruitful.”

“In a perfect world there will be a bit of experience added to the team because we can’t be all the time as young as we are.”

“The experience of Ian Breckin was there for all to see towards the end of the season and Matty Lockwood. They came into games and easily coped and had big input into the games.”

Settling in just nicely

DARREN Pattinson has already shown it has taken little time for him to settle in at Trent Bridge.

The Aussie paceman was brought in for cover for Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad after the pair were tied to central contracts by the ECB in April.

And the 29-year-old has already re-paid the faith shown in him with a fantastic five wicket haul at Kent in the LV County Championship opener and a critical 4 for 35 in the FPT win over Leicestershire-keeping Notts in prime position to compete in both competitions.

Notts’ Director of Cricket Mick Newell hailed his impact and identified the key role he will now play in the coming months.

He said: “He’s already proved he’s going to be a really important player for us after the wickets he’s picked up for in both formats of the game.”

“He’s come and done an excellent job for us and will play a vital role with Ryan and Stuart away for most of the summer.”

“We met him originally after he came down with David Hussey to a nets session and we’ve kept in contact with him since. Also with him being English born we were aware about the possibilities of bringing him in an not affecting the overseas restrictions.”

“We’ve got the chance to bring in Darren and Luke Fletcher and now and to be honest it can only be of benefit to the side to bring in faces like them who we know can give us real options in our attack.”

But the coach was reserved as to the fact the side can challenge for silverware in the LV County Championship despite topping the table going into a heavy run of fixtures.

He added: “We’ve started off quite well, it was just disappointing more than anything the way we played against Kent up here.”

“We went down there in the first game and played well and came way with the result we wanted.”
“I don’t think we want to look too far ahead, we just want to be competitive. I wouldn’t want us shouting out that we’re going to do this or that like some people do, we’re just looking to compete.”

Come and join us for another fantastic season!

By Luke Sherriff
NOTTINGHAM Rugby Club would like to thank all of its fans for their support during the National League One campaign this season and we are pleased to launch our season tickets for 2008/9. This season, Nottingham Rugby Season Ticket Holders have enjoyed some of the most exciting and memorable games in the clubs history. So make sure you don’t miss out by signing up for your 2008/9 Nottingham Rugby Season Ticket and be part of the team! A Season Ticket is a great value way to enjoy watching Nottingham Rugby at every home league match. Being a Season Ticket holder at Nottingham guarantees you the following:
Guaranteed entry into 15 National Division One Home League matches Two, ‘Bring a friend for free’ vouchers, a fixture card and 20% discount voucher on one shop purchase in the Nottingham Rugby shop.
A Season Ticket Holder Prize Draw, the riight to apply for the ballot for England International Tickets and fantastic offers from our partners are also on offer.
All existing season ticket holders will receive their season ticket packs through the post in the next week. However if you can’t wait, please download from www.nottinghamrugby.co.uk and fill in the application form and send it to: Nottingham Rugby, 1 Holme Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 5AA.
For more information, please call (0115) 907 0070 or pop in to Lady Bay during office hours.
For full season ticket prices see http://www.nottinghamrugby.co.uk/
If you pay in full before 22nd May 2008, you will receive £15 discount on the above prices. This offer is not available on Junior rate.
We look forward to seeing you all down at Meadow Lane next season and help in our push for promotion.

A model pro

CHARLIE McParland has hailed Jason Lee’s time at Notts County-despite letting the player leave the club in the end of season clearout at Meadow Lane.

The 36-year-old managed just a solitary goal in an injury hit season and despite not being offered a new deal by the Magpies, the boss couldn’t speak highly enough of the professional way he handled himself since coming in last October.

He said: “Jason has been a terrific professional-he looks after himself, looks after his body and he trains like an 18-year-old trying to get in the first team. When he plays he gives it his all and that’s why he’s stayed in the game until he’s 36.”
“Some younger players in the game should have a look at how Jason conducts himself.”

The only way is up!

FOR Charlie McParland and Notts County there is simply only one direction to go-up.

The Magpies signed off their fraught season with a 1-1 draw at Chesterfield on the final day but even in this end of season meaningless encounter, Notts’ problems on the field were only all too evident.

The manager admitted some players already looked like they were on their holidays. It spoke of an attitude that fits only too well with some of the individual abject performances that have blighted the club’s season and left them embarrassingly close to non-league football.

And limited, if any, blame can be attributed to the Scotsman. Inheriting a squad with so little self belief and motivation, the number of loan players he felt the need to bring in highlighted the attitude of several players letting themselves and the club down.

But now a new leaf can be turned at Meadow Lane-and the club can look to get back on the road to recovery.

There can not be enough praise bestowed on the move to already sign one of the key components for Notts relegation escape- in the form of Michael Johnson.

As much as Johnson may have signed for the club regardless if it is to be his last year in the game, McParland’s attitude and treatment of such a respected pro is a good indicator of the respect he commands. It can only be hoped he can pull off one or two other such significant signings.

The exits of Jason Lee and Laurie Dudfield highlights the experience the squad is set to lose but is was required given the unaccepetable response in the final third this season.

Continuity and stability is key to any club’s progression. But in Notts’ current case as much major surgery as possible on the squad was the only way to go forward.

A main priority also remains with the capture of a striker who can net at least 10 to 15 goals next season. The Magpies finished bottom of total goals scored chart this year-even below relegated Mansfield and Wrexham.

Play-offs and possible promotion out of League Two are at the moment a distant dream. An injection of goals from one forward next season and a more settled and experienced back four should mean the club can begin to look forward again-rather than over their shoulder.

McGugan bid war

Nottingham Forest are expecting to fight off bids for Lewis McGugan this summer after a sterling run of form from the midfielder in the promotion run-in.

The 19-year-old scored three times in the last five games, including two stunning free-kicks against Bristol Rovers and Yeovil to cap off the critical 20-yard strike at Hartlepool.

Already being watched by England under-21 manager Stuart Pearce, a host of Championship clubs are looking to line up a £3m bid-with Crystal place boss Neil Warnock leading the chase of admirers. Wolves and Birmingham have also monitored the youngster.

Notts set early pace

Adam Voges hit 42 as Notts continued to set the pace in the Midlands Division of the Friends Provident Trophy with a comfortable win over Northants Steelbacks.

Samit Patel hit a huge six to the second tier of the Radcliffe Road Stand before being caught by David Sales and opener Will Jefferson weighed in with 36.

“We were looking forward to coming back to Trent Bridge because it felt like we had been away for such a long time and it’s great to kick-off with a home win,” said Notts Coach Wayne Noon.

“The bookies wrote us off at the start of the season but there is a quiet confidence in the squad and we believe that we can get the results."

“We fielded exceptionally well and it is really encouraging that squad players are stepping up to the plate and delivering performances."

“Mark Ealham has shown that he is still a quality player, Adam Voges saw us home, Darren Pattinson played well having had a week off and Graeme Swann is in great form."

“There is a lot of experience in the dressing room and it is a great environment to bring someone in like Luke Fletcher and let them bowl in tandem with Ealham.”

Northants opener Steven Peters hit 90 to help his side set a target of 189 before rain at the interval left Notts chasing a revised total of 143 from 30 overs. Mark Ealham dismissed Peters having already seen off Rob White to record figures of 2-25 from 10 overs and Darren Pattinson continued his impressive start to the season with 3-39.

Mark Wagh was relieved to see fielder David Lucas miss the stumps as he ran a quick single on his first ball. Monty Panesar dived in vein as Wagh found his rhythm with a four but he was caught lbw playing a sweep having scored 26.

Meadow Lane stay confirmed

Ambitious Nottingham Rugby have agreed a new rolling one-year deal with Notts County to continue playing their matches at Meadow Lane.

And delighted Chairman Geoff Huckstep believes it will be the start of an exciting new partnership which will benefit not only both clubs but also Nottingham sport in general.

He explained: "It is key to our ambitions that we have a base capable of staging top flight rugby and our players have consistently shown with this season's performances what they think about playing at Meadow Lane.

"Since we've been there our average crowds have increased by 500 and all our marketing and community activities this summer will be geared towards attracting even bigger crowds next season.

"My negotiations with County Chairman John Armstrong-Holmes have been straight-talking but cordial and a key component of the talks has been how the two clubs can work together for our mutual benefit.

"I'm confident that the new deal will form the basis of arrangements long after the 2008-09 season."

Nottingham turned Meadow Lane into something of a fortress last season and although they eventually had to settle for third place in National League 1, they are determined to mount an even stronger promotion challenge next time.

Added Huckstep: "I'm sure that our players, supporters and sponsors will be delighted to know that we will be playing at such a great venue again next season."

The effects of dual-purpose use on the Meadow Lane pitch has been a major topic of discussion for County but Armstrong-Holmes said: "We are about to carry out major works on the pitch and I'm sure it won't be such a big issue next season.

"We were very unlucky last year because we renovated the pitch during the wettest summer on record. The roots didn't settle, due to the surface water, and that set back the whole growth programme.

"In the long-term we need to look at laying a completely new pitch which is especially designed for high usage, but that requires significant investment and will need to be planned months in advance.

"It's something to think about for 12 months time, but there are other systems that can be introduced straight away that will improve the pitch, and our ground manager Greg Smith is currently investigating them.

"The new deal with the rugby club, which will be continually reviewed in the interests of both parties, is on much more favourable terms from our point of view. It was important to achieve that but we do think it will genuinely benefit both sides.

"We have a 20,000-seater stadium which sits doing nothing most of the time and it needs to be used.
"We are determined that we will move our club forward, so are the rugby club and it's exciting to think that we might work closely together in certain areas to help each other achieve our ambitions."

Magpies release eight

Notts County Manager Ian McParland has today announced his retained list, confirming that eight players will be leaving the Club in the summer.

Heading the list of those departing are strikers Lawrie Dudfield and Jason Lee, defender Lee Canoville and midfielders Matt Somner, Andy Parkinson and Gary Silk.

Also moving is youngster Rob Austin, while Austin McCann is also leaving the Club having signed a pre-contract agreement with Dunfermline Athletic earlier in the year.

New contract offers have been made to goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington and defender Mike Edwards to join the ten players already under contract for next season.

Young winger Stef Frost has been offered an extension to his contract in order to regain fitness after suffering a broken leg in March whilst on loan at Matlock Town.

Swann hails bowling dream team

ALL rounder Graeme Swann hopes that the depth of the Notts bowling attack will help the quest to mount a serious challenge for honours this season.

Notts have emerged as the early season pace-setters in division one of the LV County Championship and the midlands group of the Friends Provident Trophy with plaudits being heaped on the bowlers who have found wickets easy to come by so far this term.

Veteran all-rounder Mark Ealham took 4-39 in Sunday’s win over Ireland after Darren Pattinson had announced his arrival with 5-22 in the first innings of last week’s win over Kent.

Swann took 1-32 in Dublin before hitting 21 from 18 balls and was quick to praise his team mates.

“This would be a dream team if Siddy and Broady weren’t in the England squad and with Mark Ealham, Charlie Shreck and Darren Pattinson we are a bit spoilt so hopefully we’ll be smiling at the end of September,” said Swann.

“Having Chris Read in the side is so much to our benefit because he is a truly fantastic cricketer.

“He gets the runs and leads the troops well and the country’s loss is definitely our gain.

“I was quite happy with my batting at a time when we needed to add impetus to the innings and get a decent total on the board.”

Swann batted at number seven but is keen to move up the order for the Outlaws as he presses for a place in England’s one day squad.

“I think I’m viewed as an opener in Twenty20 and 40 over cricket and I will grab any chance I get to open up with both hands,” he said.

“Everything went well for me in Sri Lanka but it became apparent that I wasn’t going to be in the team for the tests in New Zealand but I’m looking forward to the ODI’s starting so that I can have another go at the Kiwis.”

Fans get green light to return to Kop

KOP-happy Notts County fans have had their wishes granted because they've been given the green light to turn that area of Meadow Lane into their own fortress next season.

County Chairman John Armstrong-Holmes confirmed today in announcing season-ticket prices for 2008-09 that The Kop will officially become home territory.

And the season-ticket deal for The Kop offers adults the chance to watch all League games for the equivalent of just £10.87 per match.

Said the Chairman: "Call it coincidence if you like but there's no doubt in my mind that the crucial wins we recorded against Accrington and Wycombe were significantly influenced by the support from The Kop.

"There are still a few issues to address with us taking over that area on a permanent basis but I'm sure there will be no objections from the Police and Nottingham City Council, our ground safety authority.

"The key thing is for us to make the necessary arrangements for 'housing' visiting fans in the Jimmy Sirrel Stand and we are complying with everything that has been asked of us."

General season-ticket prices are increasing slightly for the first time in five years but under-12s will have free admission in all areas of the ground and under-16s also go free in the new Haydn Green Family Stand.

The Family Stand is being renamed as a lasting legacy to the man to came to County's rescue when they were in administration, pumping in £3million to keep the club in business.

Added the chairman: "Haydn Green's part in the history of Notts County needs to be recognised and we believe that renaming the stand will do that.

"It's especially fitting that it should be the Family Stand, where we can offer free admission to under-16s. It was always high on Haydn's agenda to encourage young people to enjoy football, and this is our way of supporting his beliefs for the future of Notts County."
Season-tickets go on sale at Meadow Lane on Tuesday May 6 and Early Purchase Discounts will apply until Saturday May 31.

Now we've got the steel

CHRIS Cohen is certain Nottingham Forest would already be promoted to the Championship if they’d showed their recent steely character in more games earlier this season.

The Reds enter the season finale at home to Yeovil Town in third place with a chance of gaining automatic promotion back to the second tier if they win and Doncaster fail to pick up three points at Cheltenham.

And their ever increasing confidence from five wind and a draw in the last six games he feels can only give them every chance of getting over the finishing line, even if it does mean doing it the hard way through the play-offs.

He said: “The way we’ve ground out results recently, if we could have done that a few times earlier in the season then we’d have probably had automatic promotion wrapped up along with Swansea.”

“We’ve had a lot of games where we’ve played well and didn’t take the points and even though you come away saying we played well today we deserved three points, there’s no use saying that because we haven’t done it and in the last few weeks we’ve shown a lot more steeliness and character especially away from home.”

“We know we’re capable of scoring at any time we’ve just got to make sure we keep it solid at the back and go up the other end and try and put a couple of chances away.”

“We haven’t got a massive squad a lot of players have played a lot of games so the perfect scenario would be go up and be able to rest up for a long as we can before we go into the league above.”

The 21-yearold also highlighted automatic promotion would be ideal-if only to give the club the best possible chance time wise to compete in the Championship.

He added: “You look at Derby and the way that they’ve struggled and it was maybe a surprise for them to win the play-off final so they probably hadn’t prepared to be in the Premiership and that showed this year with the way that it’s gone for them.

“Even Blackpool in the Championship have struggled and only just got safe and again they only had a month to prepare and get players in.”

Delight for Charlie

CHARLIE McParland expressed his delight at seeing Notts County confirm their football league status for next year after their 1-0 win over Wycombe.

Richard Butcher’s solo goal was enough to confirm the three points that guaranteed Notts’ League Two safety.

And the 46-year-old couldn’t hide just how relieved he was the fans and the club as a whole.

He said: “I’m so pleased for the fans because it’s been a hard season for them.”

“It’s been a hard season for me and also the players as well, but the main thing is Notts County will be playing in the football league next season.”
“I am just a little disappointed that we didn’t secure our future a few weeks ago but for different reasons we didn’t manage to do it.”

Ealham on form

MARK Ealham carried on his excellent early season form with four wickets in the 56 run win over Ireland in Dublin.

The 36-year-old all rounder scored an impressive century in Notts impressive 10 wicket win at Kent last week to kick start the club’s Liverpool Victoria Championship campaign.

And he supplied a top performance with the ball with an cutting spell of 4 for 39 from 10 overs in the Friends Provident Trophy as he tore through the Irish order to seal Notts first win in the competition.
Adam Voges top scored with 60 as the visitors posted 217-9. Ealham’s efforts however and a wicket apiece for Sidebottom, Shreck, Broad, patel and Swann saw Ireland all out for just 161.

Hoodoo banished!

NOTTINGHAM Rugby ended the season on a high last weekend banishing their Coventry hoodoo and coming away with 5 points that so nearly brought them a runners up finish.

Exeter Chiefs and Nottingham went into the final weekend of the season on 111 points. Exeter knew that a bonus point win for them at Doncaster would clinch the runners up spot but it took a try in the 11th minute of injury time to seal it for them, as both teams ended the season on 116 points but the Chiefs runners up by virtue of having won one more game.

This did little to take away from what has been a fantastic season for us and to finish 3rd in National Division One is a great achievement. A tight game at Coventry, a place where Nottingham had not won in the fours years they have been back in the division, was not a classical end to the season but it was a case of job done but sadly it wasn’t quite enough.

Following the game on Saturday we celebrated the season in style with their Annual Ball and Awards ceremony which was this year held at the Colwick Hall Hotel. Over 350 people enjoyed a fun filled evening hosted by Trent FM’s Jo and Twiggy and following the awards danced the night away to Roy De Wired. Those still keen to continue celebrating then made their way to Alea, who sponsored this year’s event, for the after party.

With such a small squad every member played a huge part throughout the year. I feel very fortunate to have won a couple of awards but even more fortunate to have been a part of this team, we have great players but we are also great mates and that makes such a difference.

The Awards this year went to:

Young Player of the Year – Charlie Hayter
Supporters Player of the Year – Luke Sherriff
Try of the Year – Luke Sherriff
Players’ Player of the Year – Tim Molenaar
Player of the Year – Craig Hammond

The players will now have a well earned rest and come back for training mid June when all eyes will be focussed on an even better 2008/9 season. Thank you for all of your support throughout the year and we hope to see you next year.

Tenacious C

THE dictionary definition of tenacious: dogged; persistent; rententive; adhesive- all qualities Colin Calderwood has arguably failed to consistently drum into his Nottingham Forest side over a 22 month period.

But whilst the impending League One play-offs are set to decide his fate as Forest boss, a timely corner may now have been turned regarding his and the side’s tenacity to grind out results and succeed in the end of season showdown.

The 2-0 scalp at Tranmere and the 1-0 win over Luton signalled a Forest side far from at their best but still managing to grab three points-a habit they have yet to master since entering League One.

With automatic promotion now a surprising possibility entering the last two games, making the most of two below par showings could be a mentality that could be all important in the outcome of the Reds season.

And Calderwood admitted the style of the win at Tranmere could be a turning point in turning average performances into winning ones.

He said: “At Tranmere we scored with our first chance in the game and that made a world of difference in everyone’s perception of the performance because not that we didn’t come out in the first 30 minutes but we were second best in a lot of areas and were held together by the two centre halves and the goalkeeper on a lot of occasions.”

“The rest of team then got to grips with the game and played really well form there on in.”

“I was hoping Doncaster was going to be like that. Get absolutely battered and then score with Lewis’(McGugan) chance and you run away with the points.”

“But that is predominantly how I remember a lot of away games when I played and we haven’t had that too often this season but the rest of the game we were dominant and absorbed the early pressure which bodes well.”

He also indicated there was little fear factor in the side despite the disappointment of the play-offs last season.

He added: “The fear factor comes with success and the chance of the success and the team don’t look at the point of view of failure which is a great mindset to have.”

Hales hits century for Second XI

Alex Hales hit 110 from 110 balls as the Notts Second XI warmed up for the new season with a two day friendly against Loughborough University.

Each side spent a day batting in an otherwise unstructured format that saw Notts reach 305/7 from 89 overs and Loughborough 294/8 off 86 overs.

Rob Ferley (51) and 15 year old Sam Wood (50) also did well with the bat whilst AJ Harris (2/44) and Andy Carter (3/19) were the pick of the bowlers.“It was the first time that I had seen Sam Wood play outdoors and he looked very confident and accomplished and Alex got the hundred that I wanted,” said Second XI Coach Wayne Noon.

“Rob Ferley batted with Sam and helped him through and the experienced players know that they can play their way into Mick Newell’s plans by performing well for the Second XI.”

Harris bowled 17 overs and looked to have overcome the nerve injury that has hampered him recently whilst Gareth Clough enjoyed two spells with the ball as he recovers from a shin problem.

Noon hopes to arrange a one day fixture for the Second XI next week ahead of their Championship opener against Yorkshire at Stamford Bridge on May 7.

Notts trio named in England squad

The England and Wales Cricket Board today announced a 26-man England Performance Squad for this summer’s international season that includes Notts players Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad and Ryan Sidebottom.

The EPS, which has been chosen by the England selectors, consists of 12 players currently on 12-month ECB contracts, which includes Sidebottom, plus 14 non-contracted players.

It includes three players who are uncapped at international level; Michael Carberry, Adil Rashid and James Tredwell together with the Kent opening batsman Robert Key, who last played for England on the tour of South Africa in 2004-05.