Stand-in captain Mullaney confident despite Chris Read absence ahead of Durham clash

Video: Steven Mullaney honoured to captain “prestigious”  

Steven Mullaney has been given the captaincy for Nottinghamshire’s game against Durham tomorrow with usual skipper Chris Read out with a broken hand.

The injury was sustained in the Outlaw’s defeat to Hampshire on Wednesday, a result that was difficult to take according to newly-appointed captain Mullaney.

The 29-year-old said: “Disappointment is the overriding thought. We started really well again with the ball and I think testament has to go especially to the two big seamers Harry (Gurney) and Fletch (Luke Fletcher). They were relentless.”

“We were unfortunate to lose Jake Ball but it’s great for him to be in the England squad as well.”

Ball will be back for the game against Durham after he lost a battle with Chris Woakes for a place in the national side to face Sri Lanka.

Mullaney will be the man charged with leading Ball, Wessels and co. on Saturday afternoon and he says the team are confident and not short of self-belief but improvement is needed ahead of the Durham clash.

He said: “We know that we have to be more ruthless, that’s a word that’s been banded around. We had a meeting in the dressing room after the game against Hampshire and now is the time to stop saying things and do them on the field.”

Read is a “massive loss” to the side but Notts can’t sulk about his absence.

“He’s in great form with a bat and he’s always in great form in the gloves but it’s one we are going to have to cope with. It’s happened, no one around the circuit is going to feel sorry for us and that’s something we are not doing either.

“I’m confident we can cope without him.”

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