Loyal Nottinghamshire wicketkeeper batsman Wayne Noon has been awarded a Benefit Year in 2003 - his 10th season at Trent Bridge.

The Grimsby-born 31-year-old moved to Notts in 1994 after four years with Northamptonshire and was capped the following season.

He said: "I feel very lucky to be granted a benefit as most players who enjoy this honour have played a lot more first class games than me.

Having said that, not everyone gets the chance to play professionally for 15 years and I wouldn¹t change that for the world."

"It¹s been more difficult to keep my motivation levels up in the Seconds recently but taking over the captaincy and more recently landing a new coaching role at Notts has given me an added spring in my step.²

Cricket Manager Mick Newell said: "Awarding Wayne a benefit is a just reward for an extremely loyal club player.

He has not had much of a look-in with the first team over the past three seasons but you would never know from his attitude."

"As understudy to Chris Read he is in a difficult position but we know that if ever Chris is injured or away with England, we have a very able replacement who never lets us down.

He deserves a thoroughly successful benefit and I¹m sure he has plenty still to offer this club in the future."

More recently, Noon has become more involved in coaching and was handed control of the Seconds until the end of the season in the recent management re-shuffle.

© Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club