ANNUAL REPORT 2019

MINUTES OF THE 2019 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 55 Championship match had been moved toWelbeck as no cricket could be played at Trent Bridge during theWorld Cup exclusivity period. Mr Moores pointed out that playing the different forms of cricket in ‘blocks’ was preferred by players. In answer to a question by Ms D M Peasey, Mr Newell stated that, like a number of members, he personally would like to see the ‘toss’ brought back for four-day cricket, but he felt this was unlikely for the coming season. Ms Peasey also felt that there was not enough depth in the squad to ensure good performances right through to the end of the season. During the discussion that followed, Mr Newell commented that he would like to see more bowlers in the squad, which would eliminate the need to play the same players every match and would ensure ade- quate rest. Players like Luke Fletcher and Harry Gurney had been subject to an excessive workload. It was important to make the squad stronger, and Mr Moores was pleased to see young cricketers from the Academy coming onto the pro- fessional staff. It was important to create a seamless transition to move players up through the pathway. Mr Moores stressed the importance of waiting for the right players to come along. Mr Newell remarked that cricketers from other clubs wanted to play for Nottinghamshire, given its First Division status, the fact that Trent Bridge was a Test match venue and the fact that Peter Moores was the Head Coach. Mr Tennant thanked Mr Newell and Mr Moores for their report and, on behalf of everyone at the club, wished the players all the very best for 2019. 7. STRATEGIC REPORT FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE Ms Pursehouse commented that, on the field, 2018 was a season that most of the members would remember as frustrating.Whilst the team achieved its minimum objectives in all three formats – which was not easy – results were a long way from the success of the previous summer. Whilst people accepted that seasons as special as the one in 2017 did not come around very often, no-one could deny that the 2018 campaign failed to deliver on everyone’s hopes and expectations. The club, as ever, had taken steps designed to remedy that, by strengthening the playing squad with new signings and increasing investment in the player pathway. The focus over the coming five years would be to strive for consis- tency of performance in red and white-ball cricket. That would not be an easy ambition to deliver as the game continued to change. Players would demand flexibility as global opportunities in- creased and the club must continue to balance the short-term desire for success with the longer-term development of home-grown talent through its Pathway system. Off the field, 2018 brought a sur- plus in excess of £900,000 which was a fantastic achievement. It no doubt emphasised the importance of international cricket toTrent Bridge’s on-going sustainability. However, Ms Pursehouse was de- lighted that maintaining consistent growth in attendances for member- ship and domestic cricket had also contributed to the bottom line. The club planned for its financial future carefully and in four or five- year cycles, meaning that a year like 2018 helped navigate the more challenging years when there was noTest cricket to sustain it. In 2019Trent Bridge will again host One-Day International cricket before a full house in May.The club was also very proud to be hosting five fixtures in cricket’s most pres- tigious global tournament – the ICC CricketWorld Cup. This represented a priceless oppor- tunity to raise the profile of not only the venue, but the Borough, City and County. It was 20 years since theWorld Cup was last hosted in the country, and she was sure it would provide some special occa- sions for everyone to savour for the next 20 years. However, those matches are finan- cially far less lucrative for the club than a Test Match, and the financial return in 2019 would be much lower than in 2018.These fluctu- ations in the financial output were not unusual and were budgeted for, but they did act as a reminder that, in the current climate of uncertainty around global Test cricket,Trent Bridge had to constantly focus on