Essex LV Championship Division 1 at Trent Bridge Draw 11 points

 

Day 4

TEAMS SETTLE ON DRAW

after Essex belatedly try to make a match of it, but Cook misses out on Trent Bridge ton.

As expected Notts drew their championship game versus Essex today, but not before some late excitement was injected into the proceedings. Essex started the day on 199-1 and after a soporific first session added a only further 59 for the loss of Alastair Cook and Westley in 29 overs. Notts were handicapped as Hutton failed to take the field having suffered a leg injury the previous day. The afternoon session was equally pedestrian until Snater joined Harmer and suddenly the accelerator button was pressed with Essex surprisingly declaring at tea with a lead of 218 and 39 overs still to bowl. The chance of Essex bowling out Notts seemed remote but unlike at Lord’s the pitch continued to offer some assistance to the bowlers with the new ball and the target seemed a stiff one, particularly without Duckett. Notts never really took up the challenge and good bowling from Sam Cook and Simon Harmer saw Notts lose 4 wickets in 24 overs until Mullaney joined Clarke in the middle and the two of them safely saw off spin twins Harmer and Critchley as the players shook hands at 18:02 with five overs still to bowl.

Broad (Pavilion End) and Paterson opened the bowling and produced good spells at the overnight batting pair. James and Patterson-White came on for the 71st and 72nd overs respectively and kept the runs down. Alastair Cook, who had never scored a first-class ton at Trent Bridge, fell on 99 (228 balls, 11x4) inside edging a James delivery with Clarke taking the catch diving to his right, 219 for 2 in the 77th over. Broad and Paterson took the new ball with Essex 230 for 2 off 80 overs and batting became harder once more. In the 89th over, Broad had Westley caught behind for 95 (186 balls, 14x4) off a movement delivery that kept low, 252 for 3. At lunch, Essex were 258 for 3 off 92 overs with Lawrence on 17 and Critchley on 3.




Broad and Paterson remained threatening after lunch until being replaced by James and Patterson-White in the 99th and 100th overs respectively. Lawrence got to his 50 in 92 balls. In the next over, Critchley (20) played on to James, 308 for 4 in the 105th over. Harrison replaced Patterson-White for the 106th over and with his second delivery had Rossington chipping it back to him to depart for a 4-ball duck, 309 for 5. Mullaney came on for the 109th over. Lawrence became the sixth man to be dismissed, leg before to Mullaney for 52, 319 for 6 in the 111th over. Bracewell (4) tamely hit Harrison low down to Mullaney at short mid-wicket who snaffled the catch, 338 for 7 in the 118th over.

Suddenly a game that had been drifting slowly came to life as Snater hit his first two balls he received from Harrison for sixes over mid-wicket, 24 runs were quickly added in 15 balls. Harrison bowling the last over before tea had Snater (18), going for massive leg side slog, bowled, 362 for 8. Tea was taken and Essex declared during the interval with Harmer 28 not out. James 3 for 67 and Harrison, on debut, 3-52

Notts needed 219 off 39 overs with Sam Cook (Pavilion End) and Porter opening the bowling. Hameed (7) tamely fell in the 5th over caught behind Rossington off Sam Cook , 11 for 1. Slater (4) chopped a Sam Cook delivery onto his bails, 12 for 2 in the 9th over. Any thoughts of a run chase were now off the menu. Harmer came on from the Radcliffe Road End for the following over. The in-form Clarke hit two straight boundaries off Harmer’s second over. Snater was introduced for the 13th over and in his second over Montgomery hit him for two fours. An edged four by Montgomery off Harmer brought up the Notts 50 in the 16th over. Montgomery was plumb leg before to Harmer for 22, 50 for 3 in the 18th over. James on 7 was dropped by Rossington down the legside off Bracewell. But he soon fell bowled off stump by Harmer for 10, 70 for 4 off 24 overs, 15 overs still to be bowled. Critchley came on for the 27th over to make it a spin duo but Clarke (42*, 74 balls, 8x4), once more batted sensibly and in partnership with Mullaney (11*) saw Notts to 97-4 off 34 overs when the players shook hands.

Notts took 11 points from the contest and Essex 7. Notts now lie fourth in the standings but now take a 21-day baseball break until championship cricket returns on 11th June with a home fixture against Warwickshire. MAG

Day 3

ESSEX FIGHT BACK STRONG AFTER MONTY GOES BIG

Essex lead by 55 with nine second innings wickets standing going into the last day of the championship battle at Trent Bridge. In a day of near continuous sunshine only six wickets fell with Notts gaining a lead of 144 after Matt Montgomery fell one short of career best score after scoring a monumental 177 off 318 balls (26x4). Alastair Cook and Nick Browne added 62 for the opening wicket before Browne was leg before to James. Alastair Cook and Tom Westley both rode their luck but on a flattening pitch they added an unbroken 137 in 36 overs to put Essex on even keel.

Bracewell (Pavilion End) and Sam Cook opened the bowling in bright sunshine but Montgomery and Patterson-White stood firm. Snater came on for the 104th over. Porter came on for the 110th over and off his first delivery a misfield at mid-on by Snater allowed Montgomery to run a two to get Notts their third batting point. Notts 353 for 5 off 110 overs.

Harmer came on for the 111th over from the Pavilion End. In the following over, Patterson-White (12) was caught at second slip by Harmer off Porter, 355 for 6. In the 113th over, Montgomery hit Harmer for four to the long on ropes to reach 150 off 287 balls. Harrison hit three boundaries off Porter in the 116th over. Bracewell was reintroduced for the next over from the Radcliffe Road End and had Montgomery dropped on 155 low down at short mid-wicket by Harmer. In the 120th over, a four through mid-wicket by Harrison off Bracewell saw Notts to 400. Later in the same over, Bracewell got a ball to nip back and bowl Harrison for 31, 401 for seven. Harrison had played an impressive and attacking innings on his debut. Hutton was dropped on 0 by Lawrence at slip off Harmer as Essex fielding continued to be rather mediocre. Hutton (8) hit Harmer for six over mid-wicket but gently tapped a delivery from Harmer to Snater at short mid-wicket, 422 for 8 in the 125th over. Critchley came on for the 126th over. Montgomery finally fell for 177 leg before attempting a reverse sweep off Critchley, 428 for 9 in the 128th over. Montgomery possessing a fine temperament, clearly a batsman with huge potential.

Broad hit Harmer for six over mid-wicket and then for four through square leg as the lead increased. Paterson (1) was the last man to fall, caught at long on by Westley off Critchley. Notts 442 all out with Broad 14 not out. Critchley 3 for 33 and Sam Cook 3 for 58 being the pick of the opposition bowlers. Lunch was taken between the innings.

Broad (Pavilion End) and Hutton bowled the opening 8 overs, Paterson replacing Broad for the ninth over. Patterson-White came on for the 12th over and bowled his best spell of the season being desperately unlucky not to take a wicket. Alastair Cook was dropped on 15 by Harrison at second slip off Paterson, a difficult chance above his head. Browne and Cook raised the 50 stand for the opening wicket in 112 balls. James replaced Paterson for the 21st over. In the 27th over, Browne was leg before to James for 27, 62 for 1. Alastair Cook survived a confident leg before shout off Patterson-White and later in the same over he was dropped at slip by Mullaney when on 29. Notts were bowling well and somehow the two Essex batters survived. Essex got to tea on 85 for 1 off 32 overs with Alastair Cook on 32 and Westley on 17.

Broad and Patterson-White bowled straight after tea with the sun still shining bright. Essex reached their 100 in the 37th over but speeded up as batting got easier as the ball got softer. Paterson came in from the Pavilion End for the 41st over. Cook reached his 50 off 130 balls with a cover driven four off Patterson-White Hutton came on for the 45th over as the match was now being played to boozy pre-match singing from the Forest fans in the Larwood and Voce. Mullaney switched his bowlers around but to no avail, Broad celebrated Awoniyi’s goal across the road with great relish. Stumps were drawn at 18:03 with Essex 199 for 1 off 63 overs with Alastair Cook on 87 and Tom Westley on 70.

Essex seem to hold all the cards now; will they declare sometime after lunch tomorrow? The new ball still carries a threat will Notts halt their progress after the first hour as it is due in 17 overs. Whatever happens, I’m sure captain Westley will give his bowlers more than 40 overs to bowl Notts out, there will be no repeat of the Lord’s fiasco!! MAG

Day 2

MONTY CENTURY TAKES NOTTS INTO LEAD

Notts battled hard on a predominantly cloudy day at Trent Bridge as they lead by 28 runs with five first innings wickets still standing. Leading the way today was Matt Montgomery, who after two early slices of luck finished with a magnificent 130 not out off 248 balls including 20 boundaries. Batting at three, he shared in stands of 71, 93, 73 and 48 with Ben Slater (57), Joe Clarke (57), Lyndon James (28) and Steven Mullaney (27) respectively as Notts set the platform to gain a sizeable first innings lead.

The opening over of the morning from Porter (Radcliffe Road End) went for 10 with Slater hitting a six (over square leg) and a four. In the 7th over, Hameed (13) edged Sam Cook to Alastair Cook at first slip, 37 for 1. Porter proved expensive, so he was replaced by Snater for the 10th over. Two overs later Notts reached 50 but from this point the scoring rate dropped considerably. Montgomery on 0 and 4 respectively was dropped by keeper Rossington off Snater, two extremely costly errors. Porter switched to the Pavilion End for the 19th over. Slater got to 50 off 66 balls off Bracewell’s opening over (the 22nd of the innings). Slater was dropped on 50 by Alastair Cook at first slip off Bracewell, another simple chance grassed. A reverse swept four by Montgomery off Harmer s second delivery brought up the 50 stand for the second wicket in 122 balls in the 27th over. Critchley bowled an over just before the break. Notts 102 for 1 off 34 overs at lunch with Slater on 53 and Montgomery on 35. A good morning for Notts.

Sam Cook and Snater bowled after lunch. Twenty minutes into the session, Slater (57) was caught behind by Rossington off Sam Cook. After reaching 50, Slater had got bogged down adding a further 7 runs in 55 balls. Notts 108 for 2 in the 39th over. Harmer and Bracewell were introduced for the 45th and 48 overs. The now rock-solid Montgomery got to his 50 off 116 balls. Harmer only bowled a three over spell before being replaced by Porter. Notts reached their 150 in the 54th over via a four from Clarke. The 50 partnership between Montgomery and Clarke came off 97 balls. Clarke was once again playing a much more defensive innings for third time in succession and it was doing the team a power of good in trying conditions. Harmer and Porter returned for the 57th and 58th overs respectively. Clarke got to his 50 off 89 balls via a six over long off, Harmer the bowler. Critchley returned for the 64th over as Notts reached 200. In the his next over, and just prior to the interval, Critchley dismissed Clarke, not getting to the pitch of the ball skied him to Porter at mid-off, 205 for 3. A sad way for Clarke to depart after such a patient and valuable innings of 57 off 98 balls. At tea, Notts were 208 for 3 off 67 overs with Montgomery on 73 and James on 2.

After tea a pulled leg side boundary by Montgomery off Bracewell took Notts past 250 in the 79th over. The 50 partnership came up between James and himself was achieved in 84 balls. The new ball was taken with Notts on 259 for 3 after 80 overs and with the first delivery with it, bowled by Sam Cook, Montgomery brought up his 100 off 194 balls via a hit to the square leg ropes. His second championship ton for Notts. In the fifth over with the new ball, James (28), with his bat well away from his body, was caught behind by Rossington off Sam Cook, 278 for 4. Snater came on for Porter in the 86th over. In the 92nd over, a four through covers by Mullaney off Snater brought up the Notts 300. Bracewell bowled the last over of the day and with the fifth delivery had Mullaney (27) leg before to a delivery that kept low, stumps were immediately drawn at 18:11. Notts 326 for 5 off 98.5 overs. A good day for Notts and a splendid one for Montgomery. They should be looking for a lead of 100 plus tomorrow morning. Sam Cook was the pick of the Essex bowlers with 3-51. The normally prolific Harmer bowled 17 wicketless overs for 58. MAG

Day 1

NOTTS FIGHT BACK AFTER COOK'S BEST

Notts trial by 285 runs with all their first wickets standing after Essex, having been inserted by Notts, made 298 all out. Notts brought in Broad and Harrison for Fletcher and Duckett. Harrison thus became the 668th player to appear for Notts in first-class cricket. Duckett was told not appear by England despite there still being 14 days to the Lord's test against Ireland.

Broad (Pavilion End) and Hutton shared the new ball in bright sunshine in front of a fair-sized crowd. In the fifth over, Broad had Browne (11) lbw, 16 for 1. Alastair Cook and Westley batted expertly adding 135 in 42 overs for the second wicket as Essex took command. Paterson and James came on for the 11th and 16th overs respectively with the Essex 50 coming up in the 18th over. With Essex 70 for 1, Broad returned for the 25th over and Mullaney brought himself on for the following over. After a sunny morning, Essex got to 86 for 1 off 30 overs at lunch with Alastair Cook on 46 an Westley on 23.

Broad and Hutton returned after lunch in what was now cloudy conditions. Alastair Cook reached a high-class 50 off 89 balls with a three off Hutton as the Essex 100 was achieved in the 34th over. Westley on 32 survived a confident appeal for a caught behind off Broad, umpire O'Shaughnessy indicating that he thought the ball had hit Westley's pad rather than his bat. Paterson replaced Broad for the 39th over. Westley was badly dropped on 36 by Slater at long leg off Paterson, the ball slipping from his grasp at the last moment after it appeared he held the easy chance; an expensive miss. Patterson-White had his first bowl in the 42nd over. A pulled four through mid-wicket by Westley off Paterson saw him to his 50 off 128 balls. Alastair Cook (72 off 124 balls, 10x4) was brilliantly caught by Harrison diving low to his left at second slip off Paterson, 151 for 2. A crucial breakthrough and the champagne moment of day from a Notts perspective. The former England skipper had scored his highest first-class total on Trent Bridge having come into the contest with a paltry 455 runs @19.78 at the venue.

James came on for the 48th over. Westley on 60 was dropped by James, a very difficult caught and bowled chance. Westley (66) going for a legside pull bottom edged a Paterson delivery onto his stumps, 170 for 3 after 53 overs. Hutton came on for his third spell from the Radcliffe Road End for the 56th over and Lawrence (16) walking down the pitch edged him to keeper Clarke , 188 for 4. A poor dismissal. In his following over, Hutton got one to lift and move and Critchley (12) edged him to Clarke, 195 for 5 after 58 overs. Essex had lost 4 wickets for 44 in 11 overs. At tea, Durham were 205 for 5 off 64 overs with Rossington on 5 and Harmer on 5, the pair would eventually add 75 in 23 overs for the sixth wicket.

Mullaney (Pavilion End) and Hutton bowled in tandem after tea with James and Patterson-White returning for the 70th and 71st overs respectively. Patterson-White got a few deliveries to turn and lift, not a sight that Notts supporters wanted to see with spin ace Harmer in the Essex line-up. Essex got to their first batting point in the 76th over as Rossington lofted Harrison's first delivery to the boundary over mid-on. The new ball was taken with Essex 264 for 5 off 80 overs. Harmer (46) edged Broad just in front of the slips but perished next ball plumb leg before to Broad with the fifth delivery of the new ball, 270 for 6. Essex were the lose their 5 wickets for 28 in 10 overs in a dramatic late collapse. In the 86th over, Hutton had Rossington (35), walking across his stumps, 288 for 7. Snater (1) was the eighth wicket to fall brilliantly caught by Montgomery at third slip diving to his right, Broad the bowler, 289 for 8. This was Broad’s 200 first-class wicket (in 53 appearances) for Notts. Next over, the leaping Bracewell played on to Hutton, 291 for 9. Dane Paterson replaced Broad for the 91st over and had Porter caught at third slip by Montgomery, a straight forward chance. Essex 298 all out. Hutton (4-69) was once again the pick the bowlers and was well supported by Paterson (3-48) and Broad (3-53). Notts fought back well after Alastair Cook’s dismissal, bowling particularly well with the new ball. Essex though would be pleased with their total having been inserted.

Notts faced three overs before the closed from Cook (Pavilion End) and Porter and went to stumps on 13 for 0 with Slater on 4 and Hameed on 9. It had been a hard-fought day of cricket. MAG

17/05

The following squad has been announced:

Haseeb Hameed

Ben Slater

Matt Montgomery

Joe Clarke

Lyndon James

Tom Loten

Ben Martindale

Calvin Harrison

Steven Mullaney

Liam Patterson-White

Brett Hutton

Stuart Broad

Dane Paterson

So at the very least, one of either Calvin Harrison, Tom Loten or Ben Martindale will make their Nottinghamshire First Class debut. The lowlight of the squad is the absence of Ben Duckett who "sits out the encounter as England's Test summer draws near." Stuart Broad is in the squad, so work that logic out folks!

16/05

NECESSITY: THE MOTHER OF INVENTION

Are we witnessing the re-invention of Joe Clarke at this moment in time?

When Notts signed Joe Clarke at the end of 2018, they thought they had acquired an upper-middle-order run-machine, on the cusp of England selection. In reality what they found that they actually had was a troubled young man. Following Alex Hepburn's rape trial in early 2019, Clarke was a very troubled young man with his England ambitions blocked after revelations of the former- Worcestershire players' misogynistic SM group. All of that group WCCC had cleverly / slyly off-loaded one way or another before the news had broken. News that proved to be unpleasant of out-dated lads'-mag attitudes and naivety. Clarke and Kohler-Cadmore, found to be innocent of any legal wrong-doing were still found guilty by the ECB for bringing the game into disrepute and fined. Clarke's on-field form hit rock bottom during Notts' relegation season.

Social distancing in 2020 allowed Clarke reacclimatise to his new status of pariah and his form in the shortest form of the game leaped forward, Outlaws won the "winter" Blast .

By 2021, certain sections of the media had put a target on Clarke's back as he built a lucrative career during the winter months in franchise cricket, away from the British media's sniping. At best you could say, Clarke's form remained sporadic and unreliable, essentially in first class cricket. Even in Division Two in 2022, Clarke wasn't producing the numbers to justify his star-status salary. Something had to change.

So what has changed?

Tom Moores' injury has meant Joe Clarke has been thrust into the wicketkeeper's job, in a less significant role he already performed in his franchise extra-curricular gigs. But also, into the Notts side has come Matt Montgomery who has been taking Clarke's number 4 spot in the batting order. More responsibility on one hand and slightly less pressure on the other for Clarke(?), the results have been favourable on the whole, Joe Clarke's wicket has gained added value to the Notts cause.

Joe Clarke isn't the greatest of wicket-keepers but so far he played adequately, just about,. Luckily the bar has been set pretty low since Chris Read's retirement. Keeping wicket to Stuart Broad can be challenging at times, even if you're an accomplished wicketkeeper. To a lot of the viewing gallery, Dane Schadendorf is the best wicketkeeper on the books at Trent Bridge, but has his lack of form with the bat in 2023 so far, meant that there has been little room for manoeuvring by Moores senior? Significantly yesterday the little Dane was absent from the SET20 matches at Derby, so could that indicate a squad inclusion for the Essex match?

If Schadendorf or Martindale (also absent from Derby) play against Essex, hopefully it won't alter the trajectory of form for Joe Clarke's batting. HBD