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Nottinghamshire signings excite Stuart Broad ahead of 2015 season

Stuart Broad, Nottinghamshire
Image: Stuart Broad: High hopes for Nottinghamshire

Stuart Broad expects Nottinghamshire's new signings to have a big impact on the club this season.

Notts chief Mick Newell has had a busy off-season, recruiting fast bowler Will Gidman from Gloucestershire, former Zimbabwe batsman Brendan Taylor - a Kolpak signing - Leicestershire opener Greg Smith, plus three high-profile overseas recruits in Vernon Philander, Ben Hilfenhaus and and Darren Sammy.

The eye-catching signings have seen Notts installed as joint second-favourites to win the Division One title with Sky Bet, behind champions Yorkshire.

Broad’s own participation is likely to limited by his England commitments but he is confident the new boys will boost his club’s chances of silverware.

"I expect all of the signings to improve and raise their games," he told the club’s website.

Will Gidman. Gloucestershire v Hampshire. County Championship, Division Two. Bristol. May 8 2013.
Image: Will Gidman: Prolific wicket-taker for Gloucestershire

"It's hard not to when you're training with the quality of James Taylor, Alex Hales, Michael Lumb, Chris Read, these sorts of players every day.

"I bowled with Will Gidman in the nets the other day and he gets good movement from the ball. 

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"It will be interesting to see what role he plays in the side, whether he takes the new ball or comes on first change. He looks like a guy that will get seam movement on most wickets.

"Brendan Taylor is a proven international player and looks a really good signing.

"My Dad (former England opener Chris) has seen a lot more of him than me as a match referee around the world. He says Brendan's an absolutely fantastic player who will guarantee you runs.

"He'll guarantee all format runs which is a God-send. Hopefully, at 29-years-old, he'll have quite a lot of years of playing county cricket.

"I've not seen much of Greg Smith but he's coming over from Leicestershire and one thing I would say, having moved from a smaller club to a bigger club myself, everything is here for you at Notts.

Brendan Taylor is a proven international player and looks a really good signing.
Stuart Broad

"You've got fantastic coaches, the whole club is a big family, you've got facilities and you've got good players around to help improve your game.

"It comes with pressures as well because there's an expectancy here. It's a club that's expected to win trophies. 

"That's an exciting place to be as a player. You don't want to go through your career not lifting silverware.

"When there is that expectancy, you've got to perform and it pushes you on to further things. It pushes you on to international cricket.

"It's a fantastic place to play. You can see that players have gone on to represent England from here in myself, Harry Gurney, Hales, Lumb and Titch (James Taylor). 

"I'm not sure (South Africa international fast bowler) Philander needs any advice from me! His record is phenomenal.

"He gets the most out of every wicket he plays on and he'll be hungry to have some success here.

"The conditions in April and May when he'll be an Outlaw will be pretty helpful towards him and I know the whole changing room is excited to have him around.

"Regardless of what he does on the field, what the likes of Fletcher and Gidman can learn from someone like Philander is huge.

"That's where Mick (Newell) has always been so successful with overseas signings because he doesn't just think about runs and wickets on the field; he thinks about what an overseas player can offer to the whole club.”

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