Norfolk CCC captain Chris Brown has warmed up for the new season with a 10-day spell in Sri Lanka.

The off-spinner was assisting with the coaching of the Nottinghamshire CCC academy, as part of his work with the Brian Johnston Memorial Trust (BJMT) Elite Spin Bowling Programme. Based in Colombo, the 41-year-old former Lancashire player was invited on the trip by Notts academy director Chris Tolley.

'It was good experience for the lads, particularly with the white ball utilising one-day skills, exposing them to quite tough conditions,' Brown said.

'I've been out there before during the 2005/06 Sri Lankan domestic season and know the area quite well.'

That spell on the sub-continent saw Brown play first-class cricket for Badureliya Sports Club in the Premier Division Tier A tournament and the Norfolk skipper enjoyed his trip down memory lane.

He added: 'We had one evening where there was a little bit of rain. But it was 34 to 36 degrees every day so it was fiercely hot.'

Brown also works as a spin consultant for the England and Wales Cricket Board as part of his work with the BJMT and has worked with the England Performance Programme during the winter.

Norfolk begin their season on Sunday, April 24 when they travel to March to take on Cambridgeshire in the MCCA Unicorns Knockout Trophy one-day competition. Their first home game is the following Sunday, when Lincolnshire travel to Manor Park.

Their three-day season also starts with a match against Cambs, starting the Unicorns Championship at Wisbech on Sunday, May 29. The first home game starts on July 17, against Buckinghamshire at Manor Park.

Brown is also player-coach and director of cricket at Horsford, who host Vauxhall Mallards in their first East Anglian Premier League fixture of the season on Saturday, April 16.