Quick bowler Rob Lord is aiming to fine-tune his skills with the bat as well as the ball in hope of making contributions in all facets of the game, having secured two more years with the Green and Golds after a successful short-term stint.
Lord will remain at Trent Bridge until 2026 having impressed initially in the Metro Bank One Day Cup - leading Notts Outlaws’ wicket-taking charts with 11 scalps - whilst offering a point of difference in First Class fixtures against Surrey and Essex.
“It is nice knowing that you have solidified your spot for a bit longer,” Lord said on securing his new deal.
“I’m coming off the back of a good One Day Cup competition and hopefully carrying through the form to a good finish in the County Championship.
“Moving forwards I’d like to refine my skills as much as possible, working on my action but also on my batting so I can play more as that bowling all-rounder. I want to fine-tune everything so that going into next season I am prepared, and haven’t left anything in the tank.”
Playing for Bowdon in the Cheshire Premier League up until securing a short-term deal with Notts in July this year, the 23-year-old made rapid progress under the watchful eye of Peter Moores and his coaching staff, raising brows with 5/45 against a star-studded Surrey side in the 50-over format.
The professional environment - coupled with coaching expertise - has allowed Lord to flourish during his first months as a fully professional player.
“I’ve learnt loads about myself,” he said, “It has been great working with Shiney (bowling coach Kevin Shine) - not changing anything drastically but small little tweaks here and there with my run-up or how I’ve been holding the ball to present the seam. It has made a huge difference to what it was when I first got here.
“Even just the playing experience helps a lot. The more you are used to playing in these environments, the more you know what to do, can back your skills and know what your plans are. It makes it easier knowing what you need and are able to do.”
Settling into the demands of county cricket has, nonetheless, been a new challenge for the seamer, who admitted the step-up in levels has required some adaptation.
His first taste of first-team cricket, that being in the Metro Bank One Day Cup, epitomised the demands of the elite game from the get-go: “The one-day stuff always has an intensity to it because it is quick-paced, it’s more aggressive, so your 10 overs will always be full on. Even in the field, you’ve got to be on it all the time.
“Four-day cricket is different,” he added, “It is a little bit trickier to get used to because it is still very intense but over such a long period of time. You’ve got to be switched on from ball one, whether you are batting, bowling or in the field. The intensity of the four-day stuff has been harder to get used to.
He continued: “It is obviously difficult being in the field that length of time, too. We were in the field for about 150 overs against Surrey, and to be switched on for the whole time is tough.
“The body was a bit stiff - luckily we batted for a fair amount of time, and I didn’t have to bowl too many overs in the second innings. The lads bowled unbelievably well in that second innings which made our jobs a little bit easier.”
But, no matter how challenging, Lord’s first dive into professional cricket has only cemented the confidence he possesses in his own qualities.
Thanks to some valuable one-to-one time with the likes of Shine, Lord is fully aware of his ability to make a unique impact.
“It was quite nervy playing my first games; it was so new to me - that standard of cricket,” he explained, “The intensity made it a little more nerve-racking, but equally exciting. I think it was good to get involved and into it straight away. I did reasonably well and that helped my confidence massively.
“You are a bit more relaxed and at ease knowing that you are backed by the coaches and the lads you are playing with. They all know what you bring to the team and value that, and you know yourself what you can contribute.
“Speaking to Shiney about the way I go about things with my bowling, being a quick bowler but also as aggressive as I can be for a long period of time is important - especially when we have got so many skilful bowlers. It is now a case of doing it for the rest of the season and then refining over the coming months.”
The youngster still displays a commendable amount of modesty, though. Having only just scratched the surface of elite cricket, Lord - supported by those around him in the dressing room - is excited by the journey to come.
“I think there are always nerves no matter what,” he said, “If you are bowling games that are important, or have a lot riding on it like the One Day Cup games where we could have qualified, there are always nerves. But they are good nerves - the excitement of getting into the game, rather than panicking.
“I settled in really well during the 50-overs, and the lads have been good with me from the start of this County Championship period. It was nervy making my debut but all the lads seemed happy to have me there and they have backed me all the way.”
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