2022 ANNUAL REPORT

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET CLUB 2022 ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 56 around identifying the key areas in which players could improve and to explore those areas with each individual. This had been followed by a post- Christmas period of refinement, where areas that emerged success- fully from the period of exploration had been further developed. The final phase, which the squad was within at the time of the AGM, was based upon the execution of skills and simple game plans. Mr Moores revealed that the competitive intensity of training had been increasing as the season drew closer. As Mr Newell had mentioned, the squad were based in a marquee at Lady Bay, providing ideal practice conditions in-keeping with what would be faced in April during the early part of the season. Mr Moores had been buoyed by the progress of the players during the winter. He was hopeful that the hard work that had taken place would be there for all to see on the field during the course of the season. Mr Moores acknowledged that everybody associated with the club was desperate to win trophies, but highlighted that success always comes as a result of making improvements across different facets of the game, both individually and as a team. Mr Moores reflected that the way in which winter training had to be administered during the pandemic had led to positive adjustments moving forward, with more work taking place on a one-to-one basis and a renewed focus upon each individual getting the necessary time to improve in key areas. He believed that, during the previous few seasons, there had been significant growth in players – not just from younger cricketers, but from senior players too – and that this had impacted positively upon results on the field. Joey Evison, Lyndon James and Liam Patterson-White had each made an impact at first team level, and Mr Moores had also seen the likes of Joe Clarke, Ben Duckett, Tom Moores, Matt Carter and Brett Hutton moving their games forward across the different forms of the game. Senior players such as Luke Fletcher, Ben Slater and Dane Paterson had also all improved and the sum total of the above had given Mr Moores great confidence that the squad was moving in the right direction. He stated the belief that Luke Fletcher was a shining example of how everyone can continue to improve and that a testimonial in 2023 would constitute a just reward for a wholehearted cricketer, who is Nottinghamshire through and through and who it had been a pleasure to coach. Mr Moores voiced his belief that Steven Mullaney had developed as a captain with each passing year and deserved a lot of credit for how he led the team during the previous season. He led by example by approaching the game in a selfless manner and always putting the needs of the team first. Mr Moores also gave credit to the coaches, staff and committee of the club for their ongoing commitment to the cause. Mr Moores explained that the Royal London Cup in 2021 had represented a great opportunity for younger players to progress.To see Academy graduates such as Fateh Singh and Sammy King gain opportunities had been very exciting and he credited each of them for looking comfortable and confident in the first team environment, ready to make a real difference to the performance of the team. Fateh had backed-up his promise in domestic cricket by representing England U19s in the recentWorld Cup and that too had been a pleasure to see. In summary, Mr Moores was excited about the season ahead and about the progression of the squad. With James Pattinson having been signed for the new season – and bearing in mind the overall sense of progression within the squad – places in the first team would be tough to come by.This, Mr Moores believed, was exactly what would be needed if the team was to be competitive across all three formats and be able to maintain quality of performance throughout the season. Mr Moores recalled that, when he first joined the club, they had found it challenging to maintain performance levels when established players were unavailable, be that through injury or international duty. He believed that the current squad was better equipped and stated that competition for places had always been the strongest motivator for any player. In closing, Mr Moores stated his hope that all members had wintered well and looked forward to seeing them all at Trent Bridge at different times during the season. His hope was that members would feel connected to the team and that the team would, in turn, feel connected to the members. His goal for the team would be to entertain and play cricket that members would want to watch. Ultimately, Mr Moores wanted to make the members feel proud of the way in which the squad and coaches would go about their business and represent the club. 7. STRATEGIC UPDATE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE