ESSEX continue limited-overs action tomorrow when they resume their Clydesdale Bank 40 campaign with a visit to Trent Bridge where they will face Nottinghamshire with the visitors boosted by the inclusion of Scott Styris who is named in a 13-man squad.

Essex Head Coach Paul Grayson explained: “Scott asked if he could play because he feels that he hasn’t played as much cricket for us as he would have liked because he was forced to miss a few t20 games because of injury. He will also be available for the match with Glamorgan at Chelmsford next Wednesday.

The CB40 competition has been put on hold for seven weeks having made way for twenty20 cricket and an occasional four-day game took over the calendar and the opening 40 overs per side affairs proved productive for Essex who are unbeaten after five matches with four victories whilst the match against Glamorgan at the Swalec was abandoned.

Only Somerset can boast a better record in the group with maximum points from their five games whilst Nottinghamshire have won two and lost three matches.

For Tom Craddock, the CB40 has proved a rewarding competition. The leg-spinner was playing for Unicorns when he came under the scrutiny of Essex head coach Paul Grayson who was impressed with the Huddersfield-born player’s bowling although the leggie failed to capture a wicket in the two matches with the county side.

Anxious to extend their restricted spin options, Essex offered Craddock a two-month trial and the player quickly broke into the Championship side after a seven-wicket haul whilst playing for the Second XI against Sussex.

On his Championship debut, he returned figures of four for 70 in the Northants second innings as the league leaders slumped to defeat and then he followed up with match figures of six for 71 in the victory over Leicestershire this week.

Now Craddock is about to be offered his first professional contract, just days after celebrating his 22nd birthday last Wednesday.

“We are going to sit down with him next week and have a chat about his future and hopefully sort out a contract with him.”

Grayson said.

“He’s developing nicely and has impressed everyone during his short spell with us,” he added. “He’s got an excellent temperament and deserves his chance.

“It’s always very rewarding when you get lads from obscurity and they come in and do a good job for you and he’s turned out to be a good signing and he is only going to get better.”

Although he has represented Unicorns, the ECB have confirmed that Craddock can play for Essex although he is not allowed to revert back to his former team.

Craddock said: “I want to be playing in all formats of the game and hopefully, I’ll get my chance to play CB40 cricket for Essex.

“I’m really enjoying my time with Essex. My ambition has always been to play county cricket and it’s a good dressing room to be in with a number of good and experienced professionals and other young lads like myself trying to make their way in the game.”

The match is schedule to commence at 1.45 pm.

Nottinghamshire (from): A Hales, R Wessels, A Voges, S Patel, C Read, S Mullaney, A Adams, D Pattinson, L Fletcher, B Phillips, J Ball, A Brown, A Patel, P Franks, S Elstone,

Essex (from): J Foster, M Pettini, A Wheater, O Shah, R Bopara, R ten Doeschate, S Styris, G Napier, D Masters, T Phillips, C Wright, T Craddock, T Westley.