2021 ANNUAL REPORT

MINUTES OF THE 2021 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 53 Mr Moores stated that he would remember the 2020 season for a number of reasons: the unfortunate absence of spectators, the fact that red-ball cricket was played in a conference format for the first time, culminating in the BobWillis Trophy Final at Lord’s, and for Notts Outlaws winning the Vitality Blast trophy. He pointed out that the trophy had been the club’s fifth since 2010, thus making the previous decade the most successful in the club’s history in relation to silverware. Mr Moores revealed that, in what had been an immensely difficult year, the Nottinghamshire team had resolved to play for and represent their absent members and supporters and those less fortunate than them- selves. He believed that Notts had dom- inated for long periods in each of their BobWillis Trophy matches, but expressed disappointment at being unable to gain the elusive victory they all so badly craved. He stated that this desire was fuelling their pre-season work ahead of the 2021 campaign and that the mem- bers should feel positive about the forthcoming season. Reflecting further on red-ball cricket in 2020, Mr Moores praised the role of Zak Chappell in helping the team come to terms with the loss of senior bowlers in Jake Ball and Luke Fletcher. He named Matthew Carter as a further example of a player whose game had moved forward during the previous year and stated that much improved performances with the bat had been the result of contributions from throughout the club’s top and middle order. Haseeb Hameed, Ben Slater, Joe Clarke, Ben Duckett, Samit Patel,Tom Moores and Joey Evison had all put in telling performances at different times – and Steven Mullaney had made his mark on the team in his third season as Club Captain. Mr Moores, meanwhile, put Notts Outlaws’ success inT20 cricket down to the team’s powerful batting line-up and varied bowling attack. He stated that Jake Ball produced some of his best form as the team’s frontline fast bowler and that various ‘pace off’ options had been crucial in building pressure on opposition batting line-ups. During the course of the campaign, everyone had produced match- winning performances, making the eventual success a true team effort. This was perfectly summed up when Peter Trego featured in the tournament for the first time in the final, as an injury replacement for Chris Nash, and proceeded to build a match-winning partnership along- side Ben Duckett to chase down Surrey’s total. Mr Moores saved his final mention for the captain, Dan Christian, whose value to the team was encapsulated perfectly by his game- defining Finals Day performances. Dan epitomised leading from the front and Mr Moores was looking forward to seeing him back in a Notts shirt the following season. Mr Moores concluded by thanking those present for their support and stating his hope and optimism that the 2021 season was one that could be shared by members inside Trent Bridge. 7. STRATEGIC REPORT FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE Ms Pursehouse opened her speech by referring back to last year’s AGM when she had spoken at length about the implementation of a nationwide strategy for cricket, as the game sought to capitalise on England’sWorld Cup win of 2019. At that time, progress was being made between the First-Class coun- ties and the ECB, together with the National Counties, the Professional Cricketers’ Association, the game’s broadcast partners and the recrea- tional boards, with a view to finding the most effective ways of delivering the Inspiring Generations strategy. The overarching objectives were to nurture and retain the game’s core and loyal audience whilst also finding ways to engage communities that were traditionally more difficult to reach, inspiring as many individuals as possible into making the decision that cricket was a game for them. She had been consistent in express- ing the view that this was a positive mission and the events of the last 12 months had demonstrated the value of people and organisations working together to deliver positive outcomes. As she looked back on 2020, Ms Pursehouse did so with a sense that – in the most testing of circum- stances – the club, the venue and the game had emerged in a more hopeful position than she could have dared imagine during the height of the first lockdown. That competitive cricket was able to take place in 2020 at all, and that it did so at international, domestic and recreational level for men, boys, women and girls, owed so much to the efforts of everyone involved in the game. The financial and operational rami- fications of the Covid-19 pandemic had added a myriad of additional complexities as the club sought to balance the unforeseen and imme- diate objective of financial survival with the equally important mission of growing the game. Despite the profound change in circumstances experienced since March 2020, the club was working to deliver its own strategy, dovetail- ing with that of the ECB, but one that addressed the unique challenges and opportunities within Notting- hamshire. This encompassed on-field perfor- mance and financial sustainability, together with the venue operation & ground development, contributions to the local community, driving an increase in participation and contin- uing to deliver the experiences for members and supporters on which Trent Bridge’s reputation had been built. Regarding participation and com- munity involvement, Ms Pursehouse