April finally saw all cricketing focus shifted back on to Trent Bridge, after months of warmer climes and exotic locations.
Northamptonshire were the first to visit Notts in 2013, in conditions far closer to Baltic than West Bridgford. Alex Hales and James Taylor dominated the first day, while Andy Carter and Harry Gurney showed good form ahead of the LV= County Championship curtain-raiser.
A two-day friendly with Leicestershire followed, as well as a visit to the County Ground to face off against rivals Derbyshire, geared toward fine-tuning ahead of Middlesex’s arrival on 10 April.
During the two-day friendly with Derbyshire, Australian opening batsman Ed Cowan arrived in Nottingham, the club’s overseas player for the season’s early months.
Cowan opened for Notts on the first day of the Middlesex match alongside Alex Hales, but ultimately the visitors prevailed.
Fortunately, the visit of Durham MCCU served as effective tonic for Notts, with Samit Patel recording his career-best score on the way to a convincing victory.
Stuart Broad was named in the Nottinghamshire side to face Derbyshire, and after a James Taylor century gave Notts a healthy second-innings lead, Broad took four of the last five wickets to help seal an important victory.
Nottinghamshire's clash with Durham straddled April and May, and James Taylor continued his fine early-season form, scoring 97 on the first day. The visitors hit back on day two, though, reaching 297-6 by stumps.