Get to know trailblazing batter and Nottinghamshire Academy prospect Travis Holland, as he takes centre stage in the first of our Academy Spotlight series.
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A born and bred West Bridgfordian, and attendee of West Bridgford School, few in Nottinghamshire’s Academy could claim to be more local to Trent Bridge.
Meet Travis Holland: batting extraordinaire and one of Notts’ freshly-ordained Young Lions.
The top-order talisman knows the Academy setup like the back of his hand, having progressed through the development pathway from the tender age of eight. Academy coach Andy Pick was the first to catch a glimpse of his raw ability – by coincidence, he added – when Holland accepted a friend’s tag-along invitation to a series of one-to-one coaching sessions.
In that first meeting, and even more so now, Holland caught the eye by simply “doing things right” – Pick inadvertently highlighting the power of a simple, holistic approach to self-development.
On his fourth year in the Academy and in the hunt for a rookie contract with Notts, the 17-year-old reached a new milestone with a call-up to represent England U19s in the summer of 2023 – hitting 35 at number two against Ireland.
His pick of finest individual performances to date, however, was a match-saving innings against Lancashire for the U18s, finding the ropes on 21 occasions in an undefeated 119 as opener to salvage a draw. Those longer vigils are a particular favourite of Holland’s, who also recalled the rewarding sensation of a three-day victory over Yorkshire amongst his team highlights.
He looks back with fondness on his near-decade long journey, reminiscing on his earliest memory of club cricket at Radcliffe when he made the forgivable error of turning up to training with the year above.
To call our historic home his own, to him, is a badge of honour which won't lose its shine any time soon.
“I’m very glad looking back on it all now, because I’ve got so many memories at Trent Bridge,” he says while gathering his breath between stints in the nets, “To have been here since I was eight feels really good, and I’m so glad that I’ve been able to stay here and work my way all the way up to the Academy.
“Woody (Matt Wood, Elite Pathway Manager) and Picky have been working with me for so many years – every year it’s even more fun and enjoyable to be around them.”
2024 will be a big year for the teenager. With A Levels as well as rookie contracts on his mind, Holland will hope to pass with flying colours.