2020 ANNUAL REPORT

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET CLUB 2020 ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 10 That we finished with the most bonus points, for both batting and bowling, is an indication of our ability to change our fortunes next season. The Vitality Blast was another story entirely and, despite a narrow escape in the quarter-final against Leicestershire, we continued to show why we have been the most successful white-ball side in the country over the last decade. Both the semi-final and final brought comprehensive wins, with our captain Dan Christian leading the way and Ben Duckett scoring an excellent unbeaten 53 in the final. It was the perfect way to end this most unusual season. Away from the field, Notting- hamshire County Cricket Club’s assimilation of the Nottinghamshire Cricket Board (NCB), which was finalised in September, means we are now responsible for all cricket, both professional and recreational, throughout our county. This responsibility goes beyond mere administration; it presents us with the opportunity to develop and grow the recreational game, whilst providing a clear and structured pathway for talented players to progress. We have, therefore, during the summer reformed the Cricket Sub- Committee – chaired by Darren Bicknell – to provide oversight in relation to that far-reaching project. Our thanks go to the NCB’s former Chairman Neil Smith and Secretary Ian Smith, the club’s Community and Development Manager Mandy Wright and my General Committee colleague PeterWright for their work in coordinating this important merger. Meanwhile, last year’s AGM saw changes ratified to our club rules, bringing them into line with Sport England and the ECB’s recom- mendations for the governance of elite sports clubs and First-Class Counties. We recognised that our rules require constant scrutiny.To this end, we appointed a member of the General Committee, Penny Huggard, to continually monitor the way in which those rules are implemented and to ensure that they are transparent, relevant and in line with required standards. A further change ratified at the AGM was the introduction of a Nominations Panel.This panel is now responsible for interviewing and ensuring the eligibility of all General Committee candidates, recommending individuals as nominated committee members, and reviewing the election process “WE CONTINUED TO SHOW WHY WE HAVE BEEN THE MOST SUCCESSFUL WHITE-BALL SIDE IN THE COUNTRY OVER THE LAST DECADE.” Richard Tennant