After almost three weeks of Friends Life t20 competition, four day cricket returns to Trent Bridge with Nottinghamshire hosting Lancashire in the LV= County Championship.

Both of last season’s meetings produced dramatic final day conclusions and should whet the appetite for more of the same this time around.

At Trent Bridge, last August, a spot of negotiating between Chris Read and rival skipper Glenn Chapple resulted in both sides making fourth morning declarations, leaving Notts to chase a victory target of 260 in 64 overs. 

Alex Hales had fallen for 98 early on the last day, as Nottinghamshire’s first innings drew to a close. Second time around his 93 anchored a successful run chase – making up for his own individual disappointment as he became unique in first class cricket for being dismissed twice in the nineties on the same day.

Once Hales had departed Notts wobbled slightly before Ali Brown 65 and Steven Mullaney 34 not out saw them over the finishing line.

That 3-wicket win took Notts 16 points clear at the top of the table, but by the last day of the season, that lead had been eroded. Results from the matches involving Somerset and Yorkshire meant that a draw would be enough for the title, providing that six bonus points were obtained in the process.

Beginning the final day of their rain-ruined match at Lancashire’s headquarters on 89-2 Notts managed to get up to 400-9 declared and secure the necessary three wickets to emerge with the Division One crown in the most thrilling manner possible.

This time it’s Lancashire who will head into the first meeting in a much stronger position in the LV= County Championship after winning five of their opening seven fixtures. Currently they lie second, 17 points behind Durham, but 39 ahead of Notts, who won their opening three matches but have now lost all of their last three.

Previous first class meetings at Trent Bridge now total 111 with Nottinghamshire having won 32 fixtures to Lancashire’s 22, whilst 57 matches have been drawn.

The most recent of Lancashire’s 22 successes came in 2006 when current skipper Glenn Chapple took 6-35 to dismiss Notts for a paltry 114 in their second innings, enabling centuries from Ian Sutcliffe and Mal Loye to win the match for the visitors.

That success broke an eight year spell without a win at Trent Bridge. Back in 1998 Chris Tolley 6-74 (1st) and Paul Franks 6-99 (2nd) each ran through the batting line-up but their efforts were undone by a magnificent all-round performance from Wasim Akram who scored 155 in Lancs second innings and then took 5-56 with the ball.

Apart from his bowling exploits, Paul Franks also has a ton against Lancashire on his CV – his 100 not out came in 2003, batting at number eight in the order.

The early days of the fixture feature two contrasting performances from Lancashire pace bowler Arthur Mold. In 1895, whilst collecting match figures of 15-85, he tore through the Notts first innings with 8-20 as the hosts fell for just 35, helped by a spell of four wickets in four balls (Shrewsbury, Daft, Dixon,Wright). 

Five years later Mold was denied the opportunity of a similarly destructive spell as he was removed from the attack after just one over after being called for throwing by umpire James Phillips. Mold – an England Test player – took 1673 wickets in a 12 year career! 

Three Nottinghamshire bowlers have recorded hat-tricks in the series of matches, John Dixon (1887), Len Richmond (1928) and Ken Smales (1955), whilst John Gunn’s 8-80 in 1921 remains the best innings analysis for the home side.

The only double-ton scored by a Notts batter was Clive Rice’s 213 not out in 1978, whilst John Crawley’s 250 in 1994 is the best by a visitor.

Arthur Jones (1903) and Norman Hill (1959) both achieved a century in each innings at TB against Lancs.

Over the past 20 years the likes of Mark Crawley, Jason Gallian and Steve Elworthy have represented each county, as well as more recent representatives - Ashwell Prince – and current Notts favourite Steven Mullaney.

This match will be the first championship game played since Mark Wagh announced his retirement but it also signifies the return of David Hussey, who replaces fellow-Australian Adam Voges in the line-up.

Hussey has only played against the Red Rose county on two previous occasions for Notts at Trent Bridge but has a healthy record against them. In 2006 he scored 150 and 18, whilst in 2009 his scores were 126 and 74, making an average of 92 for his four innings!

There are a few milestones to perhaps keep an eye out for this week with Paul Franks now on 490 first class wickets, 449 of them for Notts. Andre Adams has taken 97 first class wickets at Trent Bridge and Chris Read has scored 9959 first class runs for Nottinghamshire. 

Dave Bracegirdle will provide ball-by-ball commentary throughout this fixture on behalf of BBC Radio Nottingham.