Nottinghamshire's Andre Adams has scooped the FTI MVP award for April after helping the county make an unbeaten start to 2012.

The Auckland-born all-rounder hit 68 runs and took 18 wickets in just three games, including 5-62 against Worcestershire in last week’s rain-affected draw.

He had to be at his best to hold off the challenge of New Road opponent Alan Richardson, after the veteran bagged a wicket more than him during the month.

But Adams, who topped the County Championship MVP rankings in 2011, eventually prevailed by less than half a point after out-performing Richardson with the bat.

His efforts have so far helped Notts win two and draw two of their opening four fixtures. They currently lie second in the fledgling Division One table, two points behind last year’s runners-up Warwickshire.

And he is happy with both his team’s start to the season and his own contribution to the cause after picking up where he left off last term.

“It’s been a difficult start to the season for everyone due to the weather, but that’s just something we all have to deal with," said Adams.

 "If you said we’d be undefeated after the first four matches we’d probably have taken that." Andre Adams

“As a team we’d like to have scored more runs and earned more batting points, but if you said we’d be undefeated after the first four matches we’d probably have taken that.

“Personally, I had a good winter back home and to bring that into the new English season as well as picking up the FTI MVP award for April is very pleasing.

“I just hope the weather picks up and we can all maintain this form going forward into May and beyond.” 
The FTI MVPs have so far been dominated by seam bowlers, who have exploited early-season conditions to terrorise the country’s batting attacks.

Nick Compton of Somerset and Notts skipper Chris Read are the only recognised batsmen in the top ten, and the latter, along with Adams and Ben Phillips, make Notts the only county side to boast three players in it.

The awards are a statistical benchmark used by the Professional Cricketers’ Association, players and coaches to examine each aspect of a player’s game in relation to his peers. 

View the FTI MVP rankings here.