Norfolk's preparations for the 2012 season are underway, with the county's performance squad having already started their winter nets sessions.

Professional Trevor Ward returns for his ninth season with the county, while Northamptonshire prospect Olly Stone, who made his Norfolk debut last year, is also included.

All-rounder Chris Borrett has made himself unavailable for county duty, having limited himself to one-day games last year.

Among several uncapped players in the squad are batsman Lewis Denmark – who has joined East Anglian Premier League Swardeston from Bradenham– and Great Witchingham spinner James Hale. First choice wicketkeeper Stephen Gray, previously with Fakenham, has also joined Swardeston.

Norfolk start the season with a friendly match against Essex II at Bishop's Stortford on Saturday, April 14.

Norfolk Performance Squad 2012: C Brown (player/coach), G Walker (captain), M Addison, S Arthurton, P Bradshaw, K Bunting, H Bush, L Caswell, D Clark, T Collishaw, L Denmark, M Eccles, R Findlay, S Gray, J Hale, P Lambert, J Oakey, C Rogers, A Shearer, D Smith, J Spelman, B Stolworthy, O Stone, M Taylor, Adam Todd, Addam Todd, D Turner, AA Watson, AM Watson, T Ward, Matthew Warnes, Michael Warnes, P Yates.