Paul Franks hopes some coaching tips from fast bowling legend Dennis Lillee will help him start the 2007 season with a bang.
Franks has just returned from the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai, where he spent two weeks in the company of the Australian along with Mark Footitt, Charlie Shreck, Bilal Shafayat and Academy bowler James Maycock.

He said: “It was two weeks of hard work but I’m confident we’ll feel the benefits at the start of the season.

“We got plenty of bowling under our belts in pretty hot conditions, which should help our fitness, and Dennis was always at the nets to pass on advice.

“He’s a great coach who I’ve got to know quite well through previous visits and hopefully this trip will give me as much help as they have in the past.”

Franks is currently preparing for the first event of his Benefit year, a sparkling black tie launch dinner at the East Midlands Conference Centre on Thursday March 8.

Tickets cost £55 per person and £550 per table of 10. Anyone interested should contact his benefit office at Trent Bridge on 0115 982 3000.