County Championship preview: Nottinghamshire

2009 in a nutshell Nottinghamshire at least created an illusion of a championship challenge last summer, for which county cricket could be grateful, but in truth it was no contest as they finished 47 points behind Durham in second place. Chris Read and Mark Ealham (now retired) were left on too many occasions to rally the side after a top-order collapse. LV County Championship Division 1 2nd Pro 40 Division 1 9th Friends Provident Trophy QF Twenty 20 Cup 4th in North division What they'll be playing in this season LV County Championship Division 1 Clydesdale Bank Pro 40 Group C Friends Provident Twenty20 – North Captain Chris Read. It has been heartening to see Read, a skilful wicketkeeper shoved aside by England, gain consolation at county level. A well-run club looks set for another good season under his respected leadership. What Read really wants now though is a trophy or two and he will fear that once again Notts might not quite last the pace. Director of cricket Mick Newell. Newell's judgment in the transfer market will influence Notts' season. Will Jefferson's repeated top-order failures have led to him joining Leicestershire, with Somerset's Neil Edwards signed as a replacement. Newell also puts his trust in Steven Mullaney, from Lancashire, as a one-day all-rounder and Graeme White, a left-arm spinner from Northants as he seeks to add depths to the squad. Ins and outs In Neil Edwards (Somerset), Graeme White (Northants), Steven Mullaney (Lancashire), Scott Elstone (YTH) Out Mark Ealham (RET), Will Jefferson (Leicestershire), Mark Footitt (Derbyshire), Jason Brown (REL) Overseas players Hasim Amla (SA), David Hussey (Aus). Dirk Nannes (Aus) (T20). Amla spends the first two months of the seasons at Trent Bridge as cover for David Hussey who has IPL and World Twenty20 to occupy him until then. Dirk Nannes has built a reputation as a shrewd operator in IPL. Key player Samit Patel continues to fill English cricket with deep frustration. Escapades on treadmills, struggles to retrieve balls from under covers and a fetish for chocolate are all gleefully gossiped around the circuit. Patel has only himself to blame for failing to get into England's World Twenty20 squad. It is time to stop wasting his talent. Still. Ashes factor Stuart Broad is a certain Ashes starter, but most discussion at Trent Bridge will centre upon the fitness or otherwise of Ryan Sidebottom, whose swing-bowling skills are undeniable, but who increasingly struggles to pass his fast-bowling MOT. Notts will privately hope to see more of him. Prediction for 2010 Fourth in Division 1. Another solid championship season looks on the cards, but it is one-day cricket that will most occupy their thoughts. They seem to lack firepower to be realistic Twenty20 contenders. They also failed to win a match in 40-overs cricket last season – although there are some who would put that down to good taste.