2023 ANNUAL REPORT

19 CRICKET REPORT It is my firm belief that sustainable success in professional cricket is the product of prolonged hard work and extensive planning, whilst difficult periods provide fertile ground for growth. M I C K N EWE L L CR ICKET REPORT The 2023 season reaffirmed my belief that we are on an upward trajectory, putting the building blocks in place to help us challenge for silverware in all formats over the years to come - a process which has been ongoing for a number of years now. Our overriding priority across the year was to retain Division One status in the County Championship, and to achieve that provides us with the platform to progress again next year. In white-ball cricket, we managed to compete without consistently playing our best cricket. Whilst we saw glimpses of the talent in the squad, the 20 and 50-over campaigns acted as a reminder that we must evolve to stay at the fore. Such evolution has already come in the arrival of new faces and the appointment of new captains, which we are sure will provide the club with fresh impetus for 2024 and beyond. We also bade farewell to long- standing servants to the club, who have left with our immense gratitude. Many of our 2023 highlights came courtesy of Joe Clarke, who had his best season in a Notts shirt to date – not least in the County Championship, where he scored 1053 runs at an average of 50.14. His performances against Lancashire andWarwickshire showcased his maturity and application, whilst his and Brett Hutton’s rearguard display against Kent will go down, in my mind, as one of the most impressive Nottinghamshire fightbacks. With the ball, Brett responded to the disappointment of missing out on the season opener at Hampshire with a remarkable return of 62 wickets, including six five-wicket hauls. He epitomised the attitude required in a squad where competition for places is strong, and earned his just rewards for his hard work across the season, and his total understanding of the bowler’s craft. He, in tandem with Dane Paterson, led our bowling attack admirably. For the latter to have chalked up fifty County Championship wickets in each of his three seasons with the club to date is testament to his skills and commitment. However, that our season’s high- lights include the salvaging of draws is a mixed blessing. It is a valuable trait to be difficult to beat - and one we hope to retain,