As has become customary in the English winter months, a number of Nottinghamshire stars are currently plying their cricketing trade across the globe.

From Africa to Asia, the likes of Alex Hales, Dane Paterson & Lyndon James have jetted off to warmer climates to test their skills.

And several have found themselves in the headlines in recent days.

 

Duckett v Hameed & James

The much-awaited return of Jofra Archer may have stolen the show, but there were many Nottinghamshire subplots on show in Abu Dhabi.

With the full England squad having joined their Lions counterparts, the fixture between the two sides was the first outing for Ben Duckett as opener alongside Zak Crawley.

The left-hander, who enjoyed a stellar 2022 campaign for Nottinghamshire, struck 28 before being dismissed by Tom Abell, the opening pair adding 78 for the first wicket.

In reply to England’s 501/7 declared, Haseeb Hameed led the way with 145 from 172 deliveries.

The 25-year-old struck a Three Lions attack including James Anderson, Ollie Robinson and Jack Leach for 20 fours and two maximums, as part of a 179-run stand alongside Tom Haines.

The Lions would reply with 415/9 declared, Lyndon James making 11, with Liam Patterson-White missing out due to a slight injury.

 

 

Abu Dhabi Overrun With Outlaws

A host of Outlaws, old and new, have made Abu Dhabi home over the past week, with Alex Hales, Joe Clarke, Olly Stone & Jake Ball plying their trade in cricket’s shortest format.

Clarke and Ball are joined by Analyst Kunal Manek at Bangla Tigers, with Stone lining up for the Chennai Braves and Hales starring at the top of the order for Team Abu Dhabi, a matter of days on from triumphing in the T20 World Cup.

Hales is one half of a formidable opening partnership alongside Chris Lynn, and showed the prowess that he honed in Outlaws colours with a match-winning 44 from just 25 balls.

New recruit Stone landed a couple of wickets in a winning effort for the Braves over Northern Warriors whilst Clarke combined explosive cameos at the top of the order with taking the gloves for the Tigers.

Ball, who has turned out in two fixtures for the Tigers, will now be joined by a familiar face in the bowling ranks, with Luke Fletcher re-joining the side as an injury replacement over the weekend.

The Bulwell Bomber is a late addition to the tournament - and, as can so often be the case with international travel, his journey to the Middle East has been far from straightforward...

 

 

Paterson Finds Fresh Prey

Dane Paterson: quite literally, a machine.

Having taken 56 red-ball wickets for the Green and Golds in 2022, Paterson has wasted little time in adding to his First-Class tally as South Africa’s four-day domestic competition got underway.

Paterson has been key as Western Province have recorded a brace of victories, with 11 wickets at the frankly astonishing average of 11.54.

The domestic four-day competition now pauses until February with Western Province sitting second in the table.

 

 

Moores Eyes Next Short Format Trophy

Tom Moores will get his first taste of the Bangladesh Premier League after being signed by the Sylhet Strikers for the ninth edition of the competition.

Captained by former Bangladesh all-rounder Mashrafe Mortaza, wicketkeeper-batter Moores will line up alongside Mohammad Amir, Colin Ackermann and Thisara Perera in the early months of next year.

Having already tasted T20 success with Jaffna Stallions in the Lanka Premier League, and on two occasions with the Outlaws, Moores will be looking to add a sixth short-format title to his cabinet, following victories in the T10 in 2021 and The Hundred this summer.

 

Pettman Takes Flight

Away from the international short format circuit, Toby Pettman, who signed a new two-year deal with the Green and Golds this winter, has jetted off to Adelaide to represent Prospect District Cricket Club.

Making his debut for the side on the first weekend in November, the 6ft 7in paceman has gone on to take his first wickets for his adopted club side.

Opening the bowling with Sussex all-rounder Fynn Hudson-Prentice, Pettman took 2-35 from ten overs versus Adelaide University in the West End Men’s 1st Grade competition in recent weekends.

Prospect would be undone by a fellow county cricketer however, with Middlesex’s Ethan Bamber taking match figures of 10-77 to guide the University side to a nine-wicket triumph.

 

A first England Test series in Pakistan for 17 years gets underway in the early hours of Thursday morning, with Duckett set to lead the batting line-up alongside Crawley, while globetrotting white-ball superstars will soon be making the likes of Australia, South Africa and the UAE their temporary homes.

As ever, a banquet of overseas cricket is on offer to warm the cockles during the cold British winter months.

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England at Trent Bridge

Trent Bridge will host three international matches in 2023, with the sole Test Match of the Women’s Ashes taking place at Nottinghamshire’s historic home, before England’s men face New Zealand and Ireland in IT20 and ODI contests respectively. 

Secure your seats at trentbridge.co.uk/internationals.