Joe Clarke has been named Notts Outlaws’ Vitality Blast captain ahead of the 2024 season.
The 27-year-old - who won Nottinghamshire’s T20 Player of the Year trophy in the triumphant 2020 campaign, and again in 2023 - succeeds Steven Mullaney in the role.
“To be offered the captaincy is a huge honour,” Clarke said, “Getting the chance to represent this club is one thing, but to lead this side in the Vitality Blast is something I could never turn down.
“We have tried to play an aggressive, entertaining brand of cricket for a long time and that is something I hope can continue whilst adding a few touches of my own.
“I want us to be fearless and to take the game on. That is what we’ve done to achieve success during my time here in T20 cricket
“It’s a very talented group with experience and some new faces. There will be opportunities for different lads to stake a claim and that competition for places is definitely going to help drive us on.
“There will be a trust from Pete and myself for the lads to go out and express themselves and to do what they do best.
“That, in turn, will make for entertaining cricket. We’ve been treated to a helpful schedule with a lot of Friday and weekend games in 2024 and I’m excited to play at a packed Trent Bridge again.”
In 62 T20 innings for Notts, Clarke has amassed 1,764 runs. In each of the last four seasons, his strike rate has been in excess of 150, typifying his and the Outlaws' front-foot short-format approach.
He has struck two T20 centuries in green and gold - the first an unbeaten ton off 44 balls against Durham in 2020 on his way to 371 runs for the season, helping Notts to silverware for the second time in four years.
A year later, he blistered 136 of 55 deliveries against Northamptonshire as Notts qualified for the knock-out stages once again.
His exploits for the Outlaws have earned him a plethora of overseas stints, including in the Pakistan Super League, Big Bash League and International League T20.
“We have a good record in T20 cricket having made the knockout stages 12 times in the last 14 years, but we need to evolve to maintain that record and push for silverware,” Peter Moores said.
“We’re confident Joe is the man to help us in that transition; he has clear ideas to help us improve as a side and his character and energy will help integrate new faces into the squad.
“He has proven himself as one of the best white-ball batters in world cricket in recent seasons, learning from some of the best short format players around.
“His aggressive and dynamic approach suits the way we want to play and we’re excited by the opportunities which lay ahead for Joe and the group.”
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