Just as the first of the Green and Golds’ pre-season blocks was revving into action in November, Joe Clarke was jetting off for the first of three winter assignments.
A second season donning the green of Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League was sandwiched between two trips to the UAE, for the T10 with Bangla Tigers and the inaugural ILT20 with Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.
The life of the globtrotting cricketer is such that he has only recently returned to English shores.
“It always brings a smile to your face when you see the likes of Fletch or Ben Slater,” said Clarke.
“To see the boys after spending a bit of time away, you can tell they have been putting in the hard yards and it’s great to be back with them.”
The franchise world gives players, such as Clarke, access to a variety of world-class environments and coaches, including former Trent Bridge icon David Hussey at the Stars.
However, with Clarke spending the majority of the summer months on the banks of the River Trent, there’s one person in particular who will always be at the end of phone, regardless of where in the world he is.
“Pete is always at the other end of the phone when I need him,” said Clarke of Head Coach Moores.
“He’ll check in and have a catch up every other couple of weeks or so if he notices anything in my game that seems different, and I’ll do the same if I want some advice.
“All the coaches are busy making sure the boys are put through their paces and putting in the hard work.
“But they’ve got one eye on the lads around the world playing in all of these competitions and they’ve been brilliant with me.
A winter of white-ball cricket now gives way to a flurry of First-Class fixtures, but the change of format is no longer a daunting one for the Outlaws dasher.
“Making the transition (back to red-ball cricket) has become easier over the years,” added Clarke.
“In the past I was quite hard on myself because I would come back and expect myself to fall straight back into the groove of facing the red ball, and that wasn’t the case.
“This year, my first two weeks back have been better than they have been before.
“To be back working with Pete, Ant (Botha, Assistant Coach) and all the coaching staff, and facing the boys in the nets, has been great fun.”
When Clarke joined the club ahead of the 2019 season, a summer of Division One cricket awaited.
A poor run of results on the field, plus the disruption of the pandemic on the county cricket calendar, means 2023 marks just a second season in the top tier of the domestic game since the 26-year-old made the move to the East Midlands.
For Clarke, team success comes streets ahead of personal milestones.
“I have individual goals but I’m not going to give them away,” he said.
“Ultimately, I just want to contribute to winning games for Nottinghamshire in Division One.
“In 2021 we were playing a lot of Division One clubs and we showed how good we were.
“We beat a lot of them and I think we’re ready to be up there, challenging for trophies and up at the top end of the division.”
With the Nottinghamshire squad going through a period of stability, Clarke has felt a sense of familiarity as he has returned to the marquee at Lady Bay.
But as the club target an assault on three competitions, he earmarked Olly Stone and Colin Munro as key signings.
“I’m far happier to have Olly playing for us so I don’t have to face him anymore,” he said.
“He has pure pace, and his T20 skills in particular have really come on over the past couple of years.
“And with his experience playing white-ball cricket for England, he’ll be a great addition for us.
“Colin Munro has a wealth of experience.
“I’ve played with him on the franchise circuit and he’ll offer a lot to our batting group.
“He plays in the style that we like and I’m sure he’ll fit right in.”
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