TCP VERDICT

Notts looked fantastic for the first two days – and it took a partnership that lasted 83.1 overs to deny them a fourth successive Championship win of the season.

In the absence of James Pattinson and Jake Ball, their attack was understandably less potent, and with Stuart Broad no doubt leaving for large swathes of the season to play for the Test side, Notts may have more frustrating days like the final two of the match in Cardiff.

Luke Fletcher ran in hard for all of the 41 overs he sent down in this match, and he did well to claim five wickets on a pitch that was very slow and had very little in it for seam bowlers. Shot-making was hard, but as soon as a batsman decided to drop anchor it was very hard to get anyone out.

Harry Gurney was slippery throughout, and caused the one moment of alarm on the final day when a quick bouncer smashed into Cooke’s helmet. He managed just two wickets, but will bowl worse for far better rewards this season.

The man who deserves the most praise was Brett Hutton, who allowed his team to push past 400 with his excellent 61 before picking up three wickets in the match. Perhaps more impressive than his efforts with either bat and ball was how he ran in hard on that final day, even when the pitch flattened out.

Despite losing their bowlers to international duties, Notts have the firepower to take 20 wickets.