Grounded!

Somerset in a quest to sign a record number of Overseas players in one season have now grabbed the signature of Abdur Rehman, only to find his arrival is delayed by visa issues.

Sounding familiar?


Mitchell Starc had a farcical trip around the world with a visa problem, but Somerset are clocking up an almanac of excuses this term:

• Roelof van der Merwe - couldn't get a visa
• 
  
• Kieron Pollard - turned his back on Somerset in favour of the Windies.
• 
  
• Chris Gayle - agreed to join the Cidermen for T20 but then re-built bridges with the Windies and rescindered on the deal.
• 
  
• Faf du Plessis - again signed but then decided to honour an International agreement.

Brian Rose's wisdom in opting for South Africans in a Protea's  tour year is open to question; they have already used the services of Albie Morkel, Richard Levi and Vernon Philander in LV= and T20 games.


Somerset's unavailability problems have been compounded by George Dockrell's inclusion in Ireland's U19 World Cup plans.

Notts will share some of those headaches with Somerset, having; Brett Hutton and Sam Wood also heading south for that World Cup, Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad doing whatever they do with senior England, Samit Patel, Alex Hales and James Taylor likely to be England Lions soon again and Michael Lumb has also be included in the England T20 preliminary squad, making the Notts contingent 6.


Tresco has let it be known that he looking to make a comeback in the T20 Q/F

The Boy is Back

The man-mountain, otherwise known as Luke Fletcher, returned to cricketing action against the Tykes 2nds for the Notts 2nd XI returning 3/27.

Out of the Park

Garry Park has left the Sheep of Derby, after he was told they wouldn't be re-newing his contract for next season; he leaves by mutual consent.


What the odds on:


Foxes or Unicorns?


Forest?

Testing Times

Andrew Strauss out in the First Over of the First Test LBW via a DRS, 0/1


At the end of the day England 267/3, Alastair Cook 114*, Jon Trott 71, KP 42