2015 Season Countdown Preview Part 4

At this opening of the Royal London One Day Cup 2014, Outlaws’ season looked to be blossoming on the back of a rich vein of form that Alex Hales had found himself in.

At Horsham, Alex Hales was instrumental in brushing Sussex to one side with 116 and returning Jake Ball helped Steven Mullaney give Outlaws a 29 run win. In the next One Day Cup match, Outlaws showed terrific fight and a never say die will in dragging a tie from an almost certain defeat at Trent Bridge against Somerset – after the one wicket win at Aigburth , perhaps Notts’ gutsiest finish in 2014 and gave lots of hope for the big games ahead.

The never say die attitude continued at Cardiff with an 8^th wicket, 93 run unbroken partnership win, Mullaney and now departed Shahzad were the heroes.

Next up was the T20 Quarter final……………….. Outlaws died, unable to defend 197/2 with a nervous display in the field – the balloon felt as though it had been burst on the season, all looked at least deflated.

The damp squib of the season now lost the Kent and Surrey One Day Cuppers to the rain but rain couldn't stop Outlaws thrashing Middlesex at Lord’s after some masterly batting from Hales and Taylor. Outlaws 353/8 the highest in List A at Lord’s – small beer compared to batterings in the World Cup where 400 is becoming common, nevertheless a cracking score by Outlaws and Duckworth Lewis could do nothing to save Middlesex.

Returning to red ball cricket Nottinghamshire despatched lowly Northants in a five wicket win at Wantage Road, victory obtained with an Alex Hales six, taking him to a hundred.

Another century for Hales followed in the One Day Cup in a one wicket win over Bears taking Outlaws to the Quarter Finals. Hales’ services were denied Outlaws in the Q/F against Derbyshire, being on International duty with Harry Gurney, but a big hundred from James Taylor (146*) taking Notts to 313/5, was plenty as the visitors were outclassed, 228 all out.

That was as good as it got for Nottinghamshire in 2014, beating local rivals in a Quarter Final of a List A competition; Yorkshire were storming the Championship whilst Notts were suffering the loss of players to injury and International call ups and the remainder were running on empty.

After Siddle’s departure Luke Fletcher had been carrying the Notts bowling attack in all formats. By the end of August poor old Fletch was tired but with his heart pumping green and gold blood he carried on bowling Yorkers.

September started with a Championship match at Chester le Street and Gary Keedy was given his Notts debut. Notts lost that game by 54 runs and with it Yorkshire were almost there as winners of the Championship. One defeat at CLS was followed by another defeat at CLS, the latter being a heavy beating in the Semi Final of the One Day Cup – Ben Stokes giving Outlaws a thrashing. That defeat effectively ended the season for Nottinghamshire.

Disappointment from one heavy defeat was followed by more disappointment and a crushing innings defeat at Trent Bridge by Yorkshire who were awarded the Championship Trophy on the Trent Bridge turf.

The season finale was against Sussex at Trent Bridge, young Cornish prospect, Jake Libby, made a century on debut but by the fourth day Notts again were well beaten. Once again the lack of depth to the squad had been shown …………..  the boiler was running out of steam and there wasn’t any coal left in the bunker (and that was mid-August).

Credit goes to Michael Newell however, he did act in signing Will Gidman and Greg Smith. Further, he recently signed Brendan Taylor on a three year Kolpak deal. He cut away some deadwood (Shahzad) and put Sam Kelsall out of his misery (released).  In 2015 the squad looks stronger than 2014.