Steven Mullaney maintained Nottinghamshire have the chance to “write some history” in their final game of the season against Durham, in which the Green and Golds can secure promotion and win the LV= Insurance County Championship Division Two title.

His side need seven points to guarantee a place in Division One in 2023, whilst 16 points will see Notts crowned champions at Trent Bridge. 

Stuart Broad returns to the squad for the clash against the North East outfit.

“It’s in games like there where you find out about people under pressure,” Nottinghamshire skipper Mullaney said. 

“If you don’t want to play on occasions like these, you shouldn’t be a professional cricketer. I am buzzing, I can’t wait to get going, and the other ten who are lucky enough to take to the field have got an opportunity to write some history for Nottinghamshire. 

“I would hope that everyone is in the same position; it’s a mixture of nerves and excitement, but, ultimately, at the start of the season, if you had offered us a nine point cushion over second going into the final game, we would have taken it.”

If second-placed Middlesex fail to collect maximum points at Worcestershire, and third-placed Glamorgan do the same at Sussex, Notts’ required haul will fall. 

And so, Mullaney would be forgiven for casting half an eye elsewhere during the final week of a drawn out campaign, but the club captain maintained his focus will be solely on the action at Trent Bridge. 

“We take each game as it comes, and you have got to look after your own controllables, not look too far ahead, because if you do, someone will overtake you,” he said. 

“We will be going into the game with the same mindset we have had all season, and that has been to play our brand of cricket, be positive and entertain the crowd.

“We’ve got players in good form with both bat and ball, and if we play as well as we can I am convinced we will get enough points to win the league.”

Mullaney also admitted that the return of Stuart Broad to the squad will be a lift for a Notts side who have won seven and drawn four of their 13 games this season. 

Broad was involved in the Green and Golds’ victory against Derbyshire in 2021, kickstarting a run which has since seen Nottinghamshire lose just four times in 25 First-Class fixtures. 

“Any time you have the opportunity to have one of the world’s best bowlers at your disposal, it’s a boost and we’ll welcome him back with open arms,” said Mullaney.

“We went through that phase of nearly three years without a win, then winning that game against Derbyshire was the start of something special. 

“We remind everyone of that in meetings - how much it hurt going through that lean spell and how much adversity we have come through. Now we’ve got the chance to extend the journey. 

“But at the end of the day, it is another game of cricket, just with a bit more riding on it. We need to remember that. We will play as positively as we can to get a result, and bring silverware to the club.”

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International cricket in 2023

Trent Bridge will host three international matches next summer, with the sole Test Match of the Women’s Ashes taking place at Nottinghamshire’s historic home, before England’s men face New Zealand and Ireland in IT20 and ODI contests respectively. 

Enter the ticketing ballot or peruse further information at trentbridge.co.uk/internationals.