After four months of preparation, through rain and shine, good days and bad, the new season is finally upon us.
It was really important to get the pre-season played and to spend time on the field. Whilst getting on the grass to train is good, nothing prepares you like a game, and nothing can replicate the kind of pressure that you feel under.
It was useful, too, to get to grips with a few different pitches. It was more suited to batters at Trent Bridge for the games against Loughborough and Warwickshire, but it gave us a challenge with the ball to try and tie up an end, experiment with a few new fields and force mistakes. We’ll play on wickets like that over the course of the season, so it’s good practice.
The wicket at Derbyshire had a bit more pace in it – a little closer to what we are used to here – but likewise, we had to plan and adapt, and we came away from all of those fixtures better for it.
There was a slight difference between the games against the university and the counties, because we were fielding and batting for a pre-agreed number of overs for the latter.
As a result, we knew that if we batted for a long period you were probably going to get called back to the dressing room, but that was the challenge Mooresy gave us – could all our batters retire at least once. Of course, it is a good feeling to not get out, and quite a few of us did that, so I think we feel in a good place.
For the game against the students, I’ll admit I got butterflies going out to bat. Strangely, it’s nice to feel those nerves, though – that’s how it feels when you go out to bat for those games where there is something on the line. To get 48 and 54* helps the confidence and I feel positive heading into the season
With the ball, I feel strong. It’s been a long road back to fitness after the injury at the end of last season, but I'm happy and feel comfortable bowling longer spells.
Healthy Competition
When you look around the changing room, everyone seems ready for the season to start in earnest. There are First-Class runs and wickets up for grabs, and important points as well, so we are keen for that next jump in intensity.
"I missed out on those last two games, and it killed me. That has given me extra motivation this year to make sure I am ready to go for that first game if selected."
Lyndon James
As a group, we have real competition for places now – arguably even more so than last year when we felt all bases were covered. It is a bit cliché, but competition is a force for good. You can’t take your foot off the gas because you know that there is someone behind you who can do your job just as well.
I saw that last year when I couldn’t bowl at the back end of the season. I missed out on those last two games, and it killed me. That has given me extra motivation this year to make sure I am ready to go for that first game if selected.
It’s true, you want to be able to go out and play with freedom, but your place can’t be absolutely guaranteed, and I don’t think a place in the team is ‘mine’. There are a lot of good all-rounders in the squad – we drive each other on to be better, and that is healthy in the wider scheme of things.
I just know that I want to bat five and be that fourth seamer, so my responsibility is to score as many runs as I can and take wickets when given the opportunity.
Setting Targets
It’s no secret that, in the County Championship, we have got ambitions to get promoted this year. We know that we are technically capable – we proved that last year – and we’ve got other elements in our favour.
I think togetherness is a big factor. We talked about it a lot last year, we fought through tough times and enjoyed our successes, we have grown stronger as a group because of the journey we’ve been on over the last few years.
We also showed that we can handle pressure when our backs are against the wall, and we proved that when we have a team against the ropes, we can finish them off. The spell of three games against Derbyshire, Worcestershire and Essex last year sticks out as a good example of that.
We need to get out of the blocks this season, and that starts with the game against Sussex – hopefully we can play to our ability, and build the momentum from there. People may view us as favourites for Division Two, but that doesn’t change how we go about our game. We need to win the games of cricket in front of us and not get ahead of ourselves.
There are a lot of good sides in the division; you look at Durham, for example, who are very strong, as we know from last year. There will be no easy fixtures, but we know we have a clear goal. We’ll play the game with our identity, and results will hopefully come.
Personally, my remit for success is how many games I can contribute to positively. I don’t like to put a number on things because it might be unachievable – when you look at last year for example, we didn’t bat twice on quite a few occasions.
If I say I want to score 1000 runs, that might not be realistic, but what I can do is stay in the moment and help Notts to win games of cricket.
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Notts Outlaws, the 2017 and 2020 Vitality Blast winners, are in T20 action at Trent Bridge from May-July. Pin your green and gold colours to the mast by securing an Outlaws Season Ticket for 2022.