It might have been the sacking of coach Clive Rice, it might have been the arrival of Stuart MacGill, but a talented yet under-achieving unit finally got their act together last season.
They could be worth watching this summer as well but Nottinghamshire's ability to cope with First Division championship cricket will rest heavily on the fortunes of leg-spinner MacGill.
 Chris Cairns is now primarily a destructive batsman - wickets will be a bonus |
He has the potential to make Nottinghamshire into one of the season's surprise teams. If he fails to make an impact, they could struggle.
But Shane Warne's ban for failing a drugs test was bad news for Nottinghamshire as well as Hampshire.
In Warne's absence, MacGill has been chosen by Australia for their Test series in the West Indies, which ends in mid-May.
He is also likely to be required for a series against Bangladesh in July and could miss six championship matches in total.
South African pace bowler Steve Elworthy has been signed as cover but he is not a like for like replacement and clearly lacks MacGill's match-winning potential.
Nottinghamshire's other overseas signing, Chris Cairns, is also a match-winner, but he comes with a health warning.
After suffering from serious knee trouble, he was ineffective with the ball during the World Cup and it would be wrong to expect stunning all-round exploits from him this summer.
He is now primarily a destructive batsman - wickets will be a bonus.
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 2003 Coach: Mike Newell Captain: Jason Gallian Overseas players: Stuart MacGill, Chris Cairns (Steve Elworthy as cover) Main players in : Russell Warren Main players out : Paul Johnson |
Cairns will be unavailable for a short period when New Zealand tour Sri Lanka in May, but the club have responded to relegation in the Norwich Union League by making him captain for all one-day matches.
It is an interesting gamble by coach Mike Newell.
It will keep Cairns motivated during the gruelling English summer but the move risks undermining the authority of club captain Jason Gallian.
The gap left by Paul Johnson's retirement has been filled by Russell Warren. He is a solid county batsman who has moved to Trent Bridge after falling out with his employers at Northamptonshire.
Greg Smith, Andy Harris and Paul Franks provide useful seam options for Gallian and there is enough class in the middle order to give cause for optimism.
Usman Afzaal and Gallian both passed 1,000 runs last summer and the hard-hitting South African, Kevin Pietersen, is hoping for his third successful season in a row and moves nearer to England qualification - he will be available in 2005.
Chris Read must be close to an England recall after some impressive performances in the winter with the Academy.
As always, a lot depends on Alec Stewart but it is time to take another look at Read.
MMIX
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