2022 ANNUAL REPORT

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET CLUB 2022 ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 12 L I S A P U R S E HOU S E CHI EF EXECUT I VE’S REPORT A red-ball rebuild, which has been in the making since the autumn of 2019, was belatedly able to achieve its core objective of securing promotion back to the first division of the LV= Insurance County Championship. All domestic fixtures, our major match cricket andThe Hundred were played without the shadow of active or potential coronavirus restrictions hanging over them. In relation to international cricket, having attracted capacity crowds for our IT20 fixture between England and India and the first three days of the England versus New Zealand Test Match, our decision to permit free entry for the final day – ensur- ing that the game’s conclusion was played before another full house – was no more than the endeavours and performances of the two teams deserved. It was driven by an absolute deter- mination to do the right thing for Test cricket and that we were able to do so in such a welcoming man- ner contributed to one of the most remarkable days I have witnessed in over two decades at Trent Bridge. England’s Jonny Bairstow-inspired run-chase that day would have made for remarkable viewing regardless. However, to witness his heroics being heralded by a full house – many of whom, we know, were attending a fixture at our venue for the first time – made the scenes even more special. That Trent Bridge collected the best spectator experience ranking from cricket supporters throughout the country, for both international cricket andThe Hundred, is testament to what our off-field teams achieved during the course of a challenging summer – and the Business of Cricket Award for ‘MostWelcoming Stadia’ is a further achievement that unites every one of us in a positive way. For producing a pitch on which 1,675Test runs were scored – and 35 wickets were taken – with the game reaching a natural and thrilling conclusion midway through the final session of the last day, a special mention has to go to our Head Groundsman, Steve Birks. With the volume of cricket that’s crammed into our calendar, amid the complexities of the requirement for central pitches for all televised games, Steve and his team of ded- icated staff – both at Trent Bridge and Lady Bay – deserve great credit. In 2023 we will not host a Men’s Test Match, but becoming a Men’s Ashes host venue once again in 2027 remains our ambition. Discussions are ongoing with our governing body regarding major match allocations for 2025 and beyond, which are likely to reach their conclusion during the course of the coming year. In the meantime, however, every- body associated with our venue should continue to advocate that there are six AshesTest Matches coming to our shores in 2023, not five. The hosting of Women’s Test Match cricket at an historic venue such as ours – and for the game to be contested over a full five days – represents a sizeable step forward for the women’s game. We are incredibly proud to have been selected to host this fixture and are committed to playing our part in the aim of attracting a six-figure cumulative audience to England Women’s fixtures in a single summer Following two years of Covid-19 related disruption, 2022 was in many ways categorised by a refreshing return to normality.