Lyndon James: Nottinghamshire start down to whole team ‘putting hands up’

Nottinghamshire – whose last County Championship title was in 2010 – have already claimed more league wins than last season, when they finished eighth in Division One with just two victories.

The demolition of Hampshire was built on a 238-run second-innings stand between Jack Haynes (120) and Liam Patterson-White (135), who scored his second career first-class ton, and his first at Trent Bridge.

“I just think how calm the dressing room is, and the self-belief we have as a squad, we’re a very tight-knit group now,” said Patterson-White.

“A couple of seasons ago we probably weren’t as close as we are now, so to build that up into the season with three wins out of five, and with the potential to have won at Edgbaston, it puts us in really good stead for the rest of the season.”

Four of Nottinghamshire’s five opening County Championship fixtures – and all three of their wins – have come on home turf.

But in their one away match, only rain denied them an emphatic win over Warwickshire at Edgbaston and an even bigger advantage at the top of Division One.

The leaders next head north for back-to-back away matches against Durham and Yorkshire before a month-long break in the Championship season.

“It’s nice competing and playing well at home, but if you want to win the championship, you’ve got to do that away from home as well,” James added.

“The good thing about winning three games is you get into good habits and hopefully we can take those forward on to Durham and Yorkshire.”