2023 ANNUAL REPORT

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET CLUB 2023 ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 32 Momentum had a great role to play in our success, with our first ever wins over South East Stars,Western Storm, Northern Diamonds and SouthernVipers all coming in our winning streak.The confidence bred from victory was evident. Kirstie should be commended for the way she conducted herself in her first season as captain. Her tactical awareness improved throughout, and she possesses the emotional intelligence and communication skills to be a strong leader. We were delighted to have taken home cricket to six home venues, and I’d like to place on record my thanks to our First-Class County hosts, as well as the outgrounds – Chesterfield,Welbeck and Lough- borough University – for their support. We look forward to revisiting Queen’s Park and Loughborough next year, whilst also taking cricket to Lindum in Lincoln – a move which reiterates our commitment to representing the region as a whole. Our goal on a playing front is to be even more ruthless next year.We must hold ourselves accountable, embrace our status as serious contenders for both titles, and reflect on the challenges we faced in 2023 to make us even more competitive going forward. We must also ensure we have the depth to be competitive across the season regardless of international commitments, allowing us to regularly turn in results such as our Charlotte Edwards Cup win against Western Storm in Cardiff, where we were without several players. It is for that reason we have created a transition phase from the Academy to senior side, giving players the scope to make that step up. Lara Shaw, Rhiannon Knowling-Davies and Brianna Ray make up that group this year. We hope to see more in the coming years, and I have no doubt we will, given the potential of the current Academy cohort.They are a young group – an intentional move to ensure they can make the most of the coaching and support available – with a bright future. We place high importance on developing them as people, not just as cricketers, and try to create an environment where they feel emboldened to express themselves. We believe we are successful in that ongoing effort. Bridging that gap to first-team cricket remains crucial, and it is a “NADINE DE KLERK HAD AN INSTRUMENTAL ROLE TO PLAY NOT JUST IN WINNING US GAMES, BUT ENHANCING THE STANDARDS WITHIN THE GROUP. THE QUALITY AND COMMITMENT SHE ADDED WERE EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR IN AN OVERSEAS SIGNING.” James Cutt