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From woolly hats to wickets: How the One Day Cup helped realise my ultimate dream
JOE POCKLINGTON began the 2025 summer expecting it to revolve around groundstaff duties, but now has a professional contract at Nottinghamshire after thriving in his first professional appearances
Joe Pocklington
The county season is a long grind, they say. Starting in early spring and finishing in damp, cold autumn, with a schedule that is squeezed at best and exhausting at worst.
My first involvement in a game came back in early April at Headingley for Yorkshire v Worcester, a fixture that feels like a very distant past.
In this game, however, I did not take my bat, gloves or spikes, but my working boots, coat and woolly hat. No, it wasn't that wet. I was just part of the ground staff, a job I was expecting to do for the entire summer. So, to say that I'm surprised that I've finished the season having played eight games of professional cricket for Nottinghamshire is a dramatic understatement.
I entered the summer with a clear aspiration of playing professional cricket; however, even I was starting to think that, aged 24, this dream might not become a reality. In truth, I was coming to peace with the idea of a nine-to-five, club cricket in the summer and five-a-side in the winter. This changed when I was called to play in a second XI T20 for Yorkshire against Leicester on May 20. I started to think: 'Have I got a chance now?'.
Trialling, I find, is a fickle business. You can be used as a stopgap for a club struggling with injury and availability of academy players early season due to exams, as a way of keeping the club's costs down at places with a small staff and, seldom, as a genuine option for a county.
It goes without saying that good performances over a prolonged period as a trialist are more often rewarded with a contract than not, but it leaves you at the mercy of a ruthless market. My experience of trialling encompasses all of those, from being an ex-academy player trialling for Sussex throughout the summer of 2021 to random friendlies for Yorkshire and Derbyshire in the summer of 2024, to this more fruitful summer of 2025. Thankfully, I performed well enough in that T20 in May to kickstart a period of trialling solidly for two months across red and white-ball fixtures, but it wasn't without further complication.
Lincolnshire – my adopted national county – and Notts have a long-running relationship where players often move between the two. I was recommended to play for Notts' second XI, having had a good start to the season at Lincoln; however, I was now in the difficult position of trialling for two counties simultaneously.
Cricket is a funny game: I'd spent the best part of three years scratching around for any second XI game I could get my hands on with minimal success. Now, I found myself choosing to turn down Notts to play for Yorkshire due to clashes in the calendar; London buses come to mind. I'm especially grateful to Steve Mullaney and Tom Smith, the counties' respective second XI coaches, for helping me navigate this unique situation.
My connection to Yorkshire, having grown up in Sussex, stemmed from my time at the University of Leeds and the Leeds/Bradford UCCE. I returned to Leeds after a winter in Sydney to give professional cricket one more attempt, continuing to play club cricket for Farsley CC in the Bradford League as well as Lincolnshire.
Incredibly formative in my path to playing for Notts was the UCCE system, which I have written about previously, [copied below this article]and its ability to further my education whilst playing and training in an elite environment with other like-minded students. This summer has underlined the value in both the UCCE and NCCA systems in providing alternative paths to professional cricket, as shown by Amrit Basra, Rory Haydon (both Derbyshire) and Andrew Neal (Hampshire) also coming through these systems to play in the One Day Cup.
As July came round and trialling continued, I learned that my chances of getting a contract were heavily dependent on The Hundred wildcard draft. With Notts already having lost Calvin Harrison to Trent Rockets and Freddie McCann to Birmingham Phoenix, I suspected that a pick for another of their spinners, and I might be in with a chance of a contract. Meanwhile, the same was true of Yorkshire and their spinners.
As it happened, Liam Patterson-White received a wildcard pick for Phoenix on July 15 and having played a part in reaching the second XI T20 final for Notts the following day, I was hopeful that I would be called upon for the One Day Cup. None of Yorkshire's spinners were drafted, so all my eggs were in the Notts basket. I was incredibly relieved to receive a call from Mick Newell – Notts director of cricket – a few days later, offering me a month-long deal for the tournament.
I had now reached a point that seemed inconceivable a few months before and, truthfully, I was expecting to play a bit-part role. However, in another slight twist, I was told that Farhan Ahmed had been called up as an injury replacement by Manchester Originals and Matthew Montgomery was going to Derbyshire on loan ahead of a permanent move next year; Notts' five spin options at the start of the year had become none. Somehow, I was now the only frontline spinner.
Training and preparation for the tournament was now fully underway, and Paul Franks, head coach for this tournament with Peter Moores away with the Rockets, pulled me aside a couple of days ahead of the first game to let me know that I would make my debut against Essex at Welbeck CC. Everyone in the group was so supportive and welcoming, which helped keep the nerves at bay.
My first involvement in a game of professional cricket, however, certainly can be forgotten in a hurry: running myself out for seven and being flat on my back in the middle of the pitch as the keeper took the bails. I was now desperate to right my wrong and was relieved when I took my first wicket of Luc Benkenstein in the second innings. To finish with figures of 3 for 53 totally surpassed my expectations, even better that it came in a winning cause.
As the tournament went on, I got to witness some remarkable moments and played against some world-class players. Our second game was a tie against Worcestershire, thanks largely to a miracle innings from Rob Lord when we were down and out in the chase. We played a Leicestershire side which included two Test players, Shan Masood and Peter Handscomb. I got to watch Jack Haynes and Haseeb Hameed guide us expertly to wins against Glamorgan and Hampshire, with Nick Gubbins scoring a superb century in the latter.
With two wins required from our last two games, both at Trent Bridge, to reach the knockout stages, the pressure was on. Against Gloucestershire, we were made to pay for dropping James Bracey early on; he scored 186 – one of the best knocks I've been on the receiving end of. Our run ended there.
Nevertheless, we had one more game to go against Surrey, and I had the added motivation of having some friends and family who came up to watch on the Bank Holiday Sunday. Despite losing, being able to meet them in the concourses after the game, all with huge smiles on their faces, made everything worthwhile. It was a timely reminder that no matter the result, I had made them all proud – a feeling better than any trophy can give you.
A theme of the tournament was a newfound respect for the sheer amount of talent that exists in the game. It's easy to overlook this tournament, with it having been seemingly relegated behind The Hundred, but to play against internationals at grounds with healthy attendances and witness incredible moments of individual brilliance proves the competition's value.
On top of this, I was one of four List A debutants for Notts, the other three all coming from our academy, and played against many youngsters doing the same for their counties, such as Alex Green, Raphie Albert and Romano Franco. Exposing people to first-team cricket in a competitive environment is a massive plus point.
That blend of players with international experience and others just starting out creates a great environment. For example, picking the brains of Haseeb Hameed to help me figure out how to bowl to Cameron Bancroft gives the tournament a richness and diversity.
A more personal reflection on the tournament was one of relief: it was relief, firstly, that being a professional cricketer was exactly what I hoped it would be; a truly fulfilling, gratifying and challenging experience which left me wanting to play more and, importantly, to learn and absorb as much as I could.
I was fearful, in all honesty, that the experience would be anticlimactic or that I would struggle to get playing time. So, to come away from the tournament having played all eight group games and to find the entire month filled with moments of fondness, enjoyment, and learning is something I will look back on with a smile.
Lastly, I'm delighted to say that I've been rewarded with a two-year contract, something that I would have thought was a crazy possibility at the start of the summer. I'll be doing everything I can to make the most of it.
I can put groundsman duties aside for now.
"This dream would never have become a reality": Making the case for the UCCE system
JOE POCKLINGTON highlights the success of the University Centre of Cricketing Excellence system and asks, with ECB university funding being redirected, what the future holds
Joe Pocklington | 15/01/2025 at 15:00
Jack Brooks and Chris Rushworth have a total of 1,200 first-class wickets between them but what unites the two other than their stelling careers? Both made their first-class debuts aged 23 or over (Brooks was 25), a testament to the late bloomer out there and the importance of giving people a chance.
Cricket is a peculiar game; its highly skilled nature lends itself to people emerging at various ages. What's more, with the men's English domestic game essentially consisting of just one professional tier, cricketers often find themselves needing to plan for life after playing, unable to fund later life through the earnings from their playing days.
Getting a degree is a good place to start. Therefore, it is important to highlight universities and the University Centre of Cricketing Excellence (UCCE) system – not least at a time when the ECB are reallocating funding to other areas of the talent pathway.
Historically, the options for those pursuing the professional game beyond the age of 18 were aplenty. These included the MCC Young Cricketers, the UCCE system with hubs across the country (Loughborough, Oxford, Cambridge, Cardiff, Durham, Leeds/Bradford) and the British Universities side, the best players from the aforementioned hubs, which played in the Second XI Championship and toured around the world in various tournaments.
While the Young Cricketers and British Universities sides are no more, Cambridge's UCCE status ended in 2022 when they declined further funding. Indeed, as mentioned above, the entire system is under threat.
This loss of two paths to professional cricket leads to an inequity. Unless a money tap is available, most cannot afford to pursue their professional ambitions into their 20s. Professional cricket should not just be an option for those who can afford to chase it. We all know cricket has accessibility and image problems – see the ICEC report – and this is one fix that can be resolved.
For balance, the void left by the Young Cricketers and British Universities has been filled with other initiatives such as SACA (South Asian Cricket Academy), the ACE Programme and increased investment into the National Counties Cricket Association (previously Minor Counties). Both have witnessed success, especially SACA, with numerous doors opened and professional contracts signed because of this greater equality of opportunity.
However, why are we content as a sport with the idea that we take with one hand and give with the other? That is, why does one pathway have to be sacrificed to make way for another? Shouldn't there be as many paths open to the professional game as possible?
Through private equity and satellite TV, the game has never been awash with so much capital. The latest TV deal struck by Sky Sports and the ECB is reported to be worth £880m to 2028. Clare Connor, who was Interim ECB chief executive at the time of the deal, lauded praise on the investment, saying the deal promised to make cricket "even more accessible over the coming years".
It seems sensible, then, to pair these ambitions of accessibility with a sustainable, wide-reaching and holistic talent pathway where the ability to both enjoy and succeed in the game is available to people of all backgrounds and ages. Given there's so much money flying around, you'd hope these ambitions are easily fulfilled.
"Alongside my training, I also had the chance to study economics and politics, further developing my professional skills which have served me well as I exited the game… [the degree] has therefore provided a vital part in my career progression"
Like many aspiring cricketers out there, I was told at 19 that there was no contract for me at Sussex and that I should go away, work at my game and return home in the summer to see if there were any second XI opportunities. Via a winter in Australia, I chose the University of Leeds and Leeds/Bradford UCCE to pursue these ambitions.
On the surface, three years in Leeds offered me some incredible memories: two fixtures at Headingley v Yorkshire in the annual county matches, three consecutive university finals, the most recent of which at Lord's, a tour to South Africa, the dismissal of Harry Brook (one for the grandkids) and friendships to last a lifetime.
Nevertheless, the magic of a system like this is not revealed in these highlights. It is in the personal development, the ability to pause, reflect and think about what you want from the game but also, crucially, to have an alternative plan ahead should those dreams not be realised.
From a cricketing perspective, let me return to my original point about Rushworth and Brooks. Not everyone can or will be good enough at 18 years old to receive a professional contract. People develop at different speeds; technically, emotionally and physically. The UCCE system is a brilliant option to hone one's craft whilst also getting a degree at some of the country's top universities. The standard is incredibly high, a reflection of the small gap to the professional game.
Upon arriving in Leeds I found myself surrounded by many who were close to the professional ranks and had similar experiences with their respective counties. Sharing these stories was cathartic for us all, gaining safety from knowing that you're not the only one to have come so close yet felt so far from achieving your dream.
The most powerful lessons you learn from a system like this are humility, independence and whether you really want it or not. When you're cast away from home, with all the temptations of socials available literally every single night of the week, the tendency to say university work is getting too much, you realise whether the game is for you. Additionally, from a cricketing perspective, away from all the coaches of your youth, you develop a deep, deep understanding of your own game. These are vital lessons for any cricketer and show the value of giving people the chance to develop beyond the age of 18.
It is important to underline that the system continues to produce many, many professionals. In the past three seasons, Michael Booth (Warwickshire), Ed Middleton (Gloucestershire), Will Smale, Asa Tribe (both Glamorgan), Chris Benjamin (Warwickshire and Kent), Hishaam Khan (Worcestershire) and Tom Hinley (Worcestershire) have emerged. Hinley, who in September signed a year-long contract at Worcestershire following impressive performances in the One-Day Cup, could not speak highly enough of the system:
"The UCCE system provided me with a professional-level platform to train and develop since being released [from Sussex in 2022] allowing me to make a return to the professional game this year. It should be seen as a route for players who haven't made it out of academies to still get the opportunity for high-level coaching and facilities. It should be seen as a viable and valuable option for getting into professional cricket."
Leeds/Bradford, too, has had a rich vein of talent come through its doors in years gone by: Nick Gubbins, Joe Leach, Ben Slater, Billy Root, Martin Andersson, Luis Reece, Josh de Caires and Toby Roland-Jones to name a few.
Taylor Cornall, the most recent to join this list following stints at Lancashire and Worcestershire, is full of praise for the system.
"As far as my cricket career goes, I owe everything to the UCCE system. It provided me a springboard to push on into the professional game. Upon first arriving at Leeds, I was an 18-year-old, who had only played two second-team games for Lancashire, I had never been in an academy or had regular access to first-class facilities.
"When I left four years later, I had played first-class cricket, scored a century against Yorkshire at Headingley, and had two clubs offering me professional contracts. Without access to first-class coaching and facilities, this dream would never have become a reality."
Cornall, who has since left the game after being released in 2023, underlines the value of having a degree to prepare for life without cricket.
"Alongside my training, I also had the chance to study Economics and Politics, further developing my professional skills which have served me well as I exited the game… [the degree] has therefore provided a vital part in my career progression," he added.
The value in having a backup plan was a sentiment Nat Bowley, formerly of Leicestershire and now Loughborough UCCE, felt strongly about.
"You see it often at the end of each year where lads are having to scramble for a backup plan because the game hasn't worked out the way they might've been expecting. I think that having a university degree gives a bit of peace of mind to players that they can be prepared for what their life may look like after cricket. On top of that, university gives you the chance to grow up and mature and the ability to take your mind off cricket."
Josh de Caires of Middlesex and formerly Leeds/Bradford, meanwhile, spoke about the game having a responsibility to ensure those who fall out the system are equipped to take on the working world.
"These days most people are getting degrees so if you're pushed to prioritise cricket but, for whatever reason, you have to leave the professional game earlier than expected but you don't have a degree, you're chasing your tail in the working world," he said.
Cornall speaks passionately about keeping talent in the system, arguing that counties should have stronger relationships with UCCEs.
"There is only a small percentage of players who are ready to go straight into first-class cricket at 18 years old. There must be a way to keep this talent in the game and allow players to continue showcasing their skills to the first-class counties…[the UCCE system] will provide further opportunities for players and allow clubs to create a continued pipeline of talent who may have not been ready at 18."
Whilst funding and a concentration of talent is likely to be a barrier to all counties having a partnered UCCE, the Loughborough set-up, with three counties – Leicester, Notts and Derby – all in close proximity shows that these clubs have significant talent under their nose. Greater integration between counties and UCCEs only likely to be a good thing for the country's talent pathway.
The chance to prepare for life after cricket and give opportunities at the highest level to those who haven't been afforded them before seems like the perfect balance. With private investment into the game looking like it won't slow down, finding a way to maintain UCCEs to ensure cricket does right by those who are so close yet, for the moment, not within the professional game, is vital.
In so doing, late bloomers are allowed the chance to develop at their own pace and ensure the list of names of those forging successful careers from their early to mid-20s grows longer. The careers of Rushworth and Brooks make the game a richer, more diverse place, and the UCCEs promise a continuation of this.
The joint experience of all those involved in this system is an entirely positive one, the ability to combine sporting and academic ambitions is perfectly aligned with ECB's ambitions for a sustainable, accessible and meritocratic talent pathway. As the cricket pie gets bigger, it's vital that this slice remains intact.
Notts revel in title triumph after beating Warwickshire
Nottinghamshire’s season ended with a day to spare, Championship title already secured, 10-wicket victory over Warwickshire in the bag. During the 3.4 overs in the afternoon gloom that they needed to knock off the winning 18 runs, there was time for Ben Slater to become the ninth man in Division One to reach a thousand runs, and for Haseeb Hameed to hit the winning boundary, a one-kneed good-night caress, that zipped across the grass and over the rope.
Minutes later, the club had set up a trestle table in front of the Hound Stand, and members gathered for the presentation. Families mingled everywhere, including Hameed’s proud parents, two sisters, brother-in-law and baby niece, on her first trip to Trent Bridge.
The ECB’s Neil Snowball handed over the medals, Hameed removing his ever-present white floppy hat and taking the trophy to lift with his team. Soon the coaching staff joined the party, head coach Peter Moores wearing a tan jacket over his green hoodie. On closer inspection, the tan jacket had been embroidered in green thread with the initials MOM. “When our first overseas Fergus O’Neill came over, he went and found the jacket in a charity shop, got it dry cleaned, got it sent off and embroidered and presented it at the end of the first match for the moment of the match,” said Moores. The jacket’s recipient was then responsible for awarding it in the next match.
Moores was expecting Josh Tongue, hero of the Oval, to hand the jacket back to Hameed today. But he didn’t, Tongue gave it to Moores. “It was lovely,” said Moores. “I’m not one for big emotion in the dressing room but I was properly made up.”
Tongue, wrapped in cotton wool by England for this game, was back in his whites and wearing his Nottinghamshire cap for the ceremony, towering over his teammates, 31 wickets at 22.03 under his belt. “Words can’t really describe how I’m feeling at the minute,” he said. I’ve always wanted to win a Division One Championship and to win it my first proper year here after missing last season is incredible.
“Taking five wickets in my debut game against Durham sort of proved to the lads why it was worth me coming here. I’ve obviously been in and out of the team with England but coming back it just feels such a special place at the minute.
“It was tough last year and I took myself away from the ground at times and spent time with family but then also I still want to support the lads as well so I still came in.
“I was in a very bad place but Chris Marshall, our sports psychologist, was brilliant during that tough time and a lot of credit for getting me back out there goes to him.
Notts title win ensures Peter Moores is the best county coach this century
Although two England stints ended in failure, winning championship with a third club confirms 62-year-old is without equal in domestic game
Will Macpherson
When Peter Moores guided Sussex to the title in 2003, it was their first County Championship win in 113 years of trying. When Moores guided Lancashire to the title in 2011, it was their first outright County Championship since 1934.
The wait was not quite as long for Nottinghamshire, the third county Moores has led to the championship, which represents an unprecedented coaching achievement. It was sealed when Kyle Verreynne pulled Warwickshire’s Ethan Bamber for six at Trent Bridge to reach 300, and a second batting point, taking them out of Surrey’s reach. It secured Nottinghamshire’s first title in 15 years, and just seventh in history. It has been too long between drinks for a club of this stature.
Notts will have to wait until Saturday [actually Friday]to lift the trophy. And really, this title was won at the Oval a week ago, when Josh Tongue blew defending champions Surrey away with high-pace hostility. Notts have made the running all summer, with even Surrey hanging on to their coat-tails.
Moores, 62, will be remembered by some as the man who had two cracks at the England job that both ended in acrimony. The first, between 2007 and 2009, ended when he and captain Kevin Pietersen both left the roles amid a fallout. They say never go back, but he had a second stint, which ended after just over a year with the 2015 World Cup debacle and the arrival of Sir Andrew Strauss as director of cricket
Really, though, Moores should be remembered as the best county coach of this century, the man who created title-winning teams at three different clubs. He is a player young cricketers are desperate to work with because of his track record of improving the games of others. Batsmen will get lots of technical attention, bowlers like Tongue know they will not be flogged.
At international level, Moores was felt to be too intense; Pietersen memorably described him as “the woodpecker” for constantly pecking away at the players, and a triple espresso. A county role is very different, and more hands on and technically focused. The season can be a grind, so Moores’s natural energy – even in his sixties – is welcome, and not seen as overbearing. Those who work with him now say he has mellowed, and gets the level of detail right. Young batsmen will move clubs so they get opportunities to work with him, while older ones return to him when their game needs a tune-up.
Nottinghamshire have a reputation for plucking the best talent from smaller counties in the Midlands. They are not as geographically large as other “big” counties, and do not have the same links to fruitful public schools. It is true that four of this season’s regulars, including Tongue, were reared at Worcestershire, while others have come from Derbyshire, such as Ben Slater, and Northamptonshire like Ben Duckett. But there are players Nottinghamshire helped produce thriving elsewhere in the shires, such as Jake Libby, Joey Evison and Matt Milnes. A lack of opportunity means Matthew Montgomery will head to Derbyshire
Equally, there is a home-grown core to this team: Freddie McCann and Farhan Ahmed (both Nottingham), and Lyndon James (Worksop) were born and raised in the county, while Brett Hutton and Liam Patterson-White were born outside the county but have come through their system.
It has taken a while for Moores to find the perfect blend at Nottinghamshire. In 2019, they did not win a championship game and were relegated. Last year, they narrowly avoided the drop again, but things have clicked this year with a perfect combination of home-grown talent, domestic imports and excellent overseas signings, particularly Fergus O’Neill and Mohammad Abbas. They were part of a pace attack so deep that Olly Stone cannot get a game after returning from injury.
In captain Haseeb Hameed, they have an exceptionally consistent opener and in Tongue, a genuine match-winner in four of the six games he played, a bit of X-factor. James stood up in the biggest moments, and Hutton was the sort of consistent workhouse every championship-winning side need. Most of their English players, Tongue and Duckett aside, hover just below international level, so are consistently available.
The real measure of Moores is the envy with which other counties look at Notts. This summer, he was out of contract, and Hampshire and Lancashire had a good crack at pinching him. He has re-signed, and so have Hameed and white-ball captain Joe Clarke, setting Notts up for a new chapter as title winners.
Notts are well placed for their seventh win of the season against Warwickshire. Hameed’s fourth century of the season powered them to 374, a first-innings lead of 116, with Warwickshire reaching stumps on seven for three. They had enjoyed a near-perfect second day.
Nottinghamshire win County Championship for first time since 2010
Neville Scott
In evening sunshine at 4.55pm, to roars from a crowd that had swelled as the moment approached, Kyle Verreynne, the wicketkeeper who hit the World Test Championship’s winning runs for South Africa last June, sent a six over mid-wicket to secure Nottinghamshire’s first championship title since 2010.
It brought up the 300 and with it the crucial second batting point that meant his side were unassailable. Beginning their reply at the start of the second day with that score as first target, they were given a perfect lead, as so often this summer, by the captain Haseeb Hameed, who made 122 before falling to what proved to be the last ball before tea.
It took his tally to 1,253 runs this campaign and left Notts, five down, with 82 more to make. Though Lyndon James came and went for nine, Verreynne nervelessly passed fifty before his exuberant blow, after which the coolly belligerent Liam Patterson-White soon completed his own fifty from as many balls.
Notts have claimed four white-ball titles in the past 12 years but this remains the triumph every club covets. It was the seventh time since the Championship was constituted in 1890 that the honour has come to Trent Bridge. It also made Peter Moores the first coach to win the crown at the helm of three different counties, having triumphed with Sussex in 2003 and 2006, and Lancashire in 2011.
It ended a sequence, moreover, of three successive titles for Notts’ sole rivals, Surrey, whom they beat by 20 runs at the Oval last week in the most tense of games, a contest that was to be the pivotal match of this year’s entire campaign.
By the second hour they were 57 for two after Ben Slater and Freddie McCann had fallen in consecutive overs when Hameed, opening, was joined by Joe Clarke to add 122 at a fluent 3.8 per over, Hameed escaping the hardest of chances to slip on 45.
Panic threatened when Clarke went for 52 and Jack Haynes for a duck in two balls from Ethan Bamber before Hameed, minutes later, sprinted for the single that completed his hundred but would have seen him run out had Tazeem Ali’s throw from mid-wicket hit the non-striker’s stumps. Verreynne would equally have gone, without score, if Ali had thrown to the ’keeper.
All of which was forgotten as Notts finally closed on 374, the pressure off and the seventh-wicket pair adding 119 in all from only 20 overs before the last four crashed in 17 balls. To cap the day, Mohammad Abbas removed both openers in his first ten balls and Brett Hutton disposed of the nightwatchman as Warwickshire wilted in the 19 balls to the close.
Peter Moores' transformative powers propel a united Nottinghamshire back to the summit
GEORGE DOBELL AT TRENT BRIDGE: From Haseeb Hameed to Kyle Verreynne, Mick Newell to Lisa Pursehouse, this is a title won not by individuals but by a talented collective
Trent Bridge (day two of four): Warwickshire 258* & 7-3, Nottinghamshire 374 - Warwickshire are 109 runs behind with nine second-innings wickets remaining
A century from Haseeb Hameed has helped Nottinghamshire secure the 2025 County Championship title with two days of the season remaining.
The club captain registered his fourth hundred of the campaign to ensure Notts reached the 300 they required to secure the second batting bonus point they required to take themselves out of reach of defending champions Surrey, in second place.
It consigns the ongoing matches - Warwickshire are at Trent Bridge while Hampshire host Surrey - largely to irrelevance.
Nottinghamshire have secured the seventh Championship title in their history and their first since 2010. It is also the first time in four years that Surrey have not won the trophy.
It was surely appropriate that Haseeb should play such a huge role in clinching the title. His runs - all 1,253 of them - have made his side tough to beat. He has formed a prolific opening partnership with Ben Slater, who has registered 10 half-centuries and needs only 15 more for 1,000 runs in the campaign, and no side in the division has more batting bonus points.
More than that, though, he has captained this team with calm good humour. On good days and bad, he has remained positive, unflappable and dignified. There's a lot to like about this Notts team, and a lot of that is because they have taken on the characteristics of their leader.
His century here went a huge way towards Notts reaching 300. On a surface which continues to provide significant assistance to the seamers, ball beat bat often. But Hameed simply shrugged off the setbacks, refused to be drawn into pushing at those which nipped away from him and played resolutely straight. At Test level, these might be somewhat unfashionable qualities. On county surfaces against a Dukes ball, they are essential.
He did enjoy a couple of moments of fortune. He was dropped on 45, Rob Yates at slip unable to cling on to a tough, low chance offered off the bowling of Ethan Bamber, and he was lucky to survive a run-out chance when he set off for a highly optimistic single when he had 99. As it was, however, Taz Ali's throw from mid-wicket missed the stumps, and Hameed was able to celebrate the 19th first-class century of his career and 13th since moving here from Lancashire ahead of the 2020 season.
It might be tough to remember now, but when Hameed did arrive here, his career was in the doldrums. He averaged 9.44 in 2018 and 28.41 in 2019. From August 2016 to April 2021 - four seasons, basically - he scored just one century.
But this is one of Peter Moores' specialities. The Notts head coach fixes broken players. He did it at Sussex to help Mushtaq Ahmed propel them to their first Championship title in 2003. He did it with a cash-strapped Lancashire in 2011 to help them to their first Championship since 1934. And he has done it here with the likes of Hameed and Ben Duckett.
It is no coincidence that Moores has now become the first man to lead three different counties to the Championship title as head coach. However, history remembers him at England level, in the county game, he is a giant.
Notts still had a bit of work to do when Hameed was bowled, playing across one from Nathan Gilchrist. They were still 82 short of the 300 mark and, with Lyndon James following soon afterwards, teetering just a little.
But, not for the first time in recent weeks, Liam Patteron-White batted with impressive assurance. And with Kyle Verreynne looking ever more secure, the pair accelerated towards the milestone in late summer sunshine.
Verreynne, who not so long ago hit the winning runs in the World Test Championship final, took them over the line by pulling Michael Booth for six over mid-wicket. Having won more games than any side in the division and lost just once, few would argue they are deserving victors.
But success in the championship is never down to just a few individuals. So, Mick Newell, the director of cricket who secured the services of some excellent overseas players - Fergus O'Neill was a particular success - could feel huge satisfaction at the squad that has been assembled here. As could Lisa Pursehouse, the longest serving CEO in the first-class game, who moves on at the end of the season.
There will be detractors. There will be those who point out that this squad contains relatively few homegrown players. And that Notts have taken a somewhat avaricious approach to their less affluent Midland rivals. Four of this squad were developed at Worcestershire with others arriving from Northants and Derbyshire.
And it's true, the system fails to reward developing counties as it should, and Notts have used their relative might as a Test and Hundred hosting side to attract and retain players, the standard of which those smaller counties can only dream of.
But working well in the transfer market is a key part of the job these days. And Notts are far from the only side that looks to recruit as well as develop. Besides, several members of this squad - not least James, Freddie McCann, Patterson-White, Farhan Ahmed and Brett Hutton - can legitimately be claimed as homegrown.
Eight of their batters have made centuries; seven of their bowlers have claimed more than 20 wickets. In James, they have an allrounder to balance the side, and in Farhan and Patterson-White, they have significantly better spin options than Surrey. They’ve coped with England calls and injuries. They’ve come through tight games through determination and character. They’ve earned this.
They will fancy finishing this season with a seventh victory, too. The Patteron-White - Verreynne partnership extended Notts’ lead well beyond a hundred in the final session. And, even though they lost their final four wickets for the addition of just seven runs, a lead of 116 on first innings feels significant on this surface. The early dismissal of both Warwickshire openers and their nightwatcher only underlined that impression.
Notts are playing champion cricket. They are not going to be denied.
HAMEED HITS ANOTHER HUNDRED AS NOTTS ARE CROWNED CHAMPIONS
Captain Haseeb Hameed’s century drove Nottinghamshire to a glorious triumph as they formally sealed the Rothesay County Championship title on the second day of their season-ending clash with Warwickshire at Trent Bridge.
When Kyle Verreynne pulled Nathan Gilchrist for six at 4:54pm, it saw Notts past the magic number of 300, banking two batting bonus points and securing an unassailable lead over nearest challengers - and three-time defending champions - Surrey.
It was Hameed’s 122, his fourth ton of the season, however, that was the main base upon which Notts’ 374 all out was built, with Verreynne Joe Clarke, and Liam Patterson-White also all contributing half-centuries.
The outpouring of joy inside Trent Bridge at the Green and Golds’ first Championship title since 2010, and the first they have won at home since 1987, was physically palpable.
So too was the prospective glee at even winning this match, which Notts merely had to draw to seal the title, with Warwickshire left reeling at 7-3 at stumps.
Head Coach Peter Moores was for many years the only coach to win the title with two counties until Mark Robinson, twice a winner with Sussex, equalled the feat in 2021 with Warwickshire.
However, Moores now stands alone in winning championships with three counties, having previously done so with Sussex and Lancashire.
After Hameed led the batting from the front, Mohammad Abbas did the same for the bowling attack, as the opener secured two wickets and Brett Hutton returned a scalp too.
It gave the hosts an overall lead of 109 in the game, and with only seven second-innings wickets remaining to be taken, real hope of another victory to cap off a glorious campaign.
Earlier in the day, openers Hameed and Ben Slater had put on 56, the ninth time they have passed fifty together this season, helping Notts come through a testing morning session at 100-2.
As conditions for batting became a little easier after lunch, Hameed and Joe Clarke (52) added 122 in 32 overs for the third wicket, though a pair of dismissals did jolt the hosts.
Not that they remotely perturbed Hameed, however, who calmly advanced to his hundred before reaching the milestone in dramatic fashion, dashing a tense single to post his ton in 181 balls.
The captain was bowled by Gilchrist on the stroke of tea, but that later only served to bring together Verreynne and Patterson-White, who had clearly decided on a glorious finale.
Verreynne, who made 83 today having also hit the winning runs as South Africa beat Australia at Lord’s to be crowned World Test champions in June, raised both arms in the air before embracing batting partner Patterson-White.
Patterson-White hit 70 as the two shared a decisive seventh-wicket partnership of 119, as Gilchrist’s first over with the new ball went for 17 after Patterson-White had begun it with three fours, before his second cost a further 15 at the behest of Verreynne.
It was the cue for the seventh-wicket due to really let rip, stretching their partnership to 100 in precisely 100 balls and 119 from 120.
Verreynne, who hit nine fours and four sixes, became a fifth victim for Alex Davies behind the stumps, though he was roundly applauded from the field having forever established himself as the man who secured Notts’ seventh Championship crown.
Notts were ultimately dismissed for a healthy lead of 116, but with the wind at their backs and a sizeable crowd firmly behind them, they roared in to give Warks four tough overs before the close.
Tough overs they were too, as Abbas, who pinned Davies and Rob Yates lbw, and Hutton, who saw nightwatcher Bamber nick to Freddie McCann in the slips, ensured the Bears were left floundering.
As Pravda gets excited, as are the rest of us, they have published a reminder of our previous two Championship wins this century - Twin Championships
Josh Tongue’s five wickets help Nottinghamshire beat title rivals Surrey
Geoffrey Dean The Times
One of the best championship encounters of recent years ended in a thrilling victory for Nottinghamshire, who now need only ten points from their final match to clinch their first title since 2010.
It would have been nine points but for a one-point deduction for their slow over rate in this game against title rivals Surrey at the Kia Oval. However, a draw with two bonus points would be enough next week at Trent Bridge, where their opponents, Warwickshire, can expect one of the flatter pitches prepared by head groundsman, Steve Birks.
Surrey’s first defeat at the Oval since 2023, and only their second there in the past four seasons, came when Tom Lawes was last out to give the outstanding Josh Tongue a third five-wicket haul for his county this season. Ultimately, the England fast bowler was the difference between the two sides in a desperately tight game, with the Surrey head coach, Gareth Batty, graciously describing the 27-year-old’s performance as “very, very good”.
Tongue on this form would be a shoo-in for the first Ashes Test against Australia in Perth, which starts on November 21. With a top speed of 92.8mph on Thursday, he hit the pitch hard and was consistently quick and hostile throughout, as well as extracting some steep bounce. It mattered little that he went for 100 in his 21.2 overs, for his job was to make life as uncomfortable as possible for Surrey’s batsmen.
It was Tongue who made the important early breakthrough in the fourth over of the day when Rory Burns, caught on the crease, was leg-before to a ball angled in from around the wicket. Then, when Surrey were well-placed on 149 for two just before lunch, Tongue returned to claim the important wicket of Ben Foakes, who edged a fine leg cutter to first slip.
Ollie Pope, fortunate early on not to be caught in the slips off Tongue, fell in the next over bowled by Lyndon James to a brilliant diving catch at second slip by Freddie McCann, who had earlier held a sharp chance there to dismiss Dom Sibley. When Ryan Patel, who never settled, spliced a pull to mid-on to give James a second wicket, Surrey were a parlous 193 for five in their pursuit of 315.
The advantage swung back their way, however, when Dan Lawrence and Tom Curran shared a buccaneering sixth-wicket stand of 51 in nine overs. Only 71 runs were required when Haseeb Hameed’s inspired gamble to bring on Liam Patterson-White paid off. In what was the only over of spin in the match, Curran could not resist giving him the charge, but yorked himself and was neatly stumped.
While Lawrence, who had just reached an excellent fifty at nearly a run a ball, was still in the middle, Surrey were favourites. Although he successfully whipped the seamers from outside off stump through the leg side, he played across a straight one from Dillon Pennington and was out leg-before.
Lawes and Gus Atkinson revived Surrey’s hopes with an eighth-wicket stand of 31, but Tongue returned to have the latter well held at first slip. He then beat Matt Fisher for pace to flatten his middle stump and, with eight men on the boundary, Lawes fell when he was caught at deep cover by Ben Slater. The entire Nottinghamshire side mobbed Slater in an understandable show of delirium before going over en masse to thank a posse of their cheering supporters.
“It was a cracking advert for the County Championship, but that won’t be any consolation for the foreseeable future,” Batty said. “Congratulations to Notts for outplaying us but we will learn from this defeat.”
Tom Moores has been drafted into the SA20 tournament at MI Cape Town as wicketkeeper understudy for Ryan Rickelton.
09/09
07/09
Haseeb Hameed: "I think my ambition to play for England will always be there"
TANYA ALDRED: Nottinghamshire’s County Championship captain on their title challenge this season, his hopes for an England recall, and what he does off the field
Where do you live now?
I've got a house in Nottingham, but it's not ready for me to move into just yet, so I tend to come back up north to see family around games and whenever I get the opportunity. I think it helps as well, it almost feels that when I'm driving across to Nottingham, I'm getting myself ready for work. And then I've got a bit of time to chill out when I get back up here.
How are you finding the responsibility of being club captain?
It's my second season and I'm really enjoying it. It's obviously a huge honour, and until you take on the captaincy, you don't quite see what goes on in the life and role of the captain. It is really important to get your feet properly under the table and understand how you want to go about doing it. I feel like I'm in a better place having gone through the experience of last year.
Was it something that you thought you'd be good at?
It is something that I did a little bit, growing up. I was captain on a few occasions in junior set-ups, I did a little bit for the Lancashire second XI towards the back end of my time there, and England Under-19s as well. I feel like I've always enjoyed responsibility and that feeling of being valued. And there's no bigger way to show that than being named captain. So when I got given the opportunity, I was really excited.
Are you thinking about winning the Championship this year?
If you ask any captain at the start of the season what they want to do, then the aim would be to win trophies, and winning the Championship would be really high up on that list. We find ourselves in a great position, but we recognise there's a lot of work still to do.
This season in particular feels really competitive. It feels like anyone can beat anyone, and I think we've seen that already. So we can't really take our eye off the ball and start looking too far ahead. I think that's something we've done really well so far, hopefully we can keep doing that and find ourselves right up there towards the end of the season.
Can you kind of put your finger on why things have gelled so well this year?
We lost quite a few big players over the last couple of seasons, and naturally, when that happens, there's a bit of a transitional phase. Then both myself and Joe Clarke, who leads the T20 team, came in fresh and new as captains at the start of last season. That also takes a bit of time for people to get used to.
Some of the players that we signed before the start of last season have now had a year of playing for us and getting their feet under the table.
So I think it's a combination of all those things. The most pleasing thing for us is we've had lots of different contributions from all across the board – if you look at the seven games, there's probably been a different player that stood up in different circumstances.
How long did it take you to find your feet after moving down from Old Trafford?
In a weird way, it felt right quite early on. It felt like it was the start of a fresh environment. It was almost like a new chapter in my life.
I'd give a lot of credit to the management and the senior players, the captain at the time [Steven Mullaney], those guys played a huge part in making me feel welcome straight away. And the way Pete [head coach Peter Moores] and Mick [Newell, director of cricket] run the club is something that I think works well for me.
I look back now and I think I've had longer with Notts than I did at Lancs, which is incredible really. It feels like time's flown by, but also feels like I've been here my whole life. So yeah, it's been a nice move. It's something that I've really enjoyed.
How do you look back on the time you had at Lancashire?
I like to reflect on the fond memories that I've got. I joined the club at the age of nine, was involved in some really successful age group teams to begin with and then made that transition into a professional player at the age of 17.
I made my debut at 18 and then at 19, to have the season I did for my first full season at county level and to be rewarded with an England call-up… they're all great memories that I've got playing for the club. Also sharing the change room with some incredible players, playing with the likes of Jimmy Anderson, Jos Buttler, and some great overseas players as well.
Also, some great Lancashire players who had a lot of success playing for the club. So that's what I like to look back on. And I've still got some great friendships from my time there. It's a club that will always hold a special place because it's where I was born and brought up. It's my home club.
Are you actively trying to up your scoring rate to earn an England recall?
I think one thing that's been constant in my development as a player is wanting to improve and not putting a limit on what I can achieve. I certainly think I'm a better player now than I was even two, three years ago.
I've had some 50-over success for Notts over the last few seasons. I think my scoring rate has gone up naturally without me necessarily looking for it too much. I've certainly got the ambition to play T20 cricket as well. There are enough examples out there of players who have been able to improve their scoring rate, and I'd like to do the same.
Do you know what you have to do to get picked by Notts in T20 cricket?
I've had some conversations, and the nice thing is that people don't think it's out of reach. It's something that hopefully is there in my game and my capabilities, which is good. I also recognise that it's a competitive team that I'm trying to break into. Hopefully, that opportunity will come sooner or later for me to showcase my skills in that format as well.
You've said that you're a better batter than you were two or three years ago. Can you elaborate on that?
I think it's a natural evolution of experience and playing more cricket. You become comfortable with who you are as a player and as a person. I'm 28 now, and I've played over 100 games in first-class cricket. I've had the great highs and the lows.
And I think you come to accept that no one's perfect. You're probably a little less hard on yourself as a player. I feel like I'm continually developing my strengths while still working on bits that I can improve on. The last few years have been some of the most successful years of my career so far.
Have you had any contact with England, and do you still have ambitions?
Not recently at all, but I think my ambition to play for England will always be there while I'm playing professional cricket. I'm 28 years old; it's not like I'm 36, where it feels like the end is closer than the start. It feels like, if anything, I'm probably reaching my prime.
The different experiences that I've had of playing 10 Test matches against India and Australia by the age of 24, a lot of them away from home, are all really valuable for me to have under my belt. And that, coupled with my improvement as a player, I like to think that if and when that opportunity comes, I'll be in a better place for it.
If you could go back in time, would you still want to make your England debut as a 19-year-old or would you rather have been picked as a more mature player?
That's really difficult to answer. I don't really fret too much about things that have happened in the past, and I don't like thinking about regrets or anything like that; it's just the way I am. I have incredible memories of my Test debut and how all that came about, and I wouldn't really change that, to be honest.
So, I guess the fact that I was able to do that at such a young age, and the journey I had from a young boy in the local state school in Bolton to come through and make my debut for England at 19, that is really special to me.
Do you think the difficulties with form you went through means that you are able to help young batters going through a rough patch?
I like to think so. We've got some really exciting young players coming through at Notts, and I love chatting to them. I can share some of the experiences that I had. It doesn't necessarily mean that it's going to connect to someone else, but if there's one bit of those experiences that helps any of the players, then that's a win for me.
Batting is a unique thing to do because you probably have a lot more bad days than good; it's a one-ball game. As a top-order batter, you might get one early, and then you're in the changing room for a whole day.
If you weren't a cricketer, what would you be doing?
It's actually a question I've been asked a little bit over the years, and I've never really come up with a proper answer. But I've got a bit of a passion for business, I enjoy the idea of running your own little thing. I like food, so a restaurant or something like that. I'd imagine it can be quite stressful to begin with, but if you get yourself to a place where you're doing all right, and you can start having people run it for you, I think that'd be quite a nice place to be.
05/09
15/08
Save Clipstone Cricket Club from Relocation
However, the future of Clipstone Cricket Club is under immediate threat. There is a proposal to build houses on our current premises, threatening the cherished location that has become a cornerstone of our community. For decades, this ground has been more than just a sports venue; it's been a place of gathering, growth, and joy for players and residents alike.
The plans for new housing bring more than just unwanted change to our club—they impose unsustainable demands on village infrastructure. Clipstone is a village with unique character and limited capacity. New housing developments risk overwhelming our roads, schools, and essential services which are already under strain. The absence of our cricket club would see not only a loss of sporting excellence but also a decline in community engagement and youth development.
Preserving our club's location is about more than saving a sports ground; it’s about safeguarding the spirit and fabric of our community in Clipstone. We urge the local council and developers to reconsider the proposal, listening to the voices of the community who passionately oppose this move.
We need your help. Sign this petition to show your support in preserving Clipstone Cricket Club’s home and ensuring the future remains bright for the teams and the community at large. Together, let us protect a vital part of our village's heart and heritage.
Kent (rain reduced) | Trent Bridge | 1969 | JPL |
Yorkshire | Hull | 1982 | JPL |
Worcestershire | Hereford | 1983 | JPSL |
Somerset | Taunton | 1998 | AXA League |
Sussex | Hove | 2004 | Totesport League |
Somerset | Taunton | 2014 | Royal London Cup |
Worcestershire | Welbeck | 2025 | Metro Bank Cup |
Also
Somerset (Somerset won by losing fewer wickets) | Taunton | 1964 | Gillette Cup |
Notts go "mad" for the One Day Cup with Essex win
Nettleworth: Nottinghamshire 283-9, Essex 234 - Nottinghamshire won by 51 runs (DLS method)
"We must be mad," proclaims a driver in the overflow car park as he leaves the relative comfort of his vehicle at Nettleworth.
Or is it Sookholme? Or Welbeck? It's somewhere north of Mansfield, near the hamlet of Spion Kop, but the nearest railway station's just over the border in Derbyshire.
Wherever it is, the John Fretwell Sporting Complex, to give it a title almost as grand as The Dukeries that surround it, is where, with little fanfare, we launch the One Day Cup.
An amber and black AA sign on the road between Shirebrook and Warsop Vale guides travellers, mad or otherwise, to "Notts cricket match". A fancier signpost might read that this place is proudly twinned with Au Milieu de Nulle Part, France, and Am Arsch der Welt, Germany.
Notts keep coming back to this windswept No Man's Land, though, and well they might, for is a county cricket club truly a county cricket club if it doesn't, occasionally, try to serve the shire it represents beyond its headquarters?
The local area's mining heritage (the ground's cricket tenants, Welbeck, were founded as a colliery side) makes it an apt choice of venue too, given the calibre of cricketers that industry traditionally produced.
Enough spectators are also here for this to be a worthwhile, if entirely necessary, exercise, for a county whose home ground houses another team for the next few weeks.
They brave the mounds that offer vantage but expose them to gusts. They enjoy the impressive range of treats in the cake tent. They like watching county cricket being played in August.
Clad in the green of Sherwood, which leaves them camouflaged by the copse at the far end of the ground, Notts ought to feel every bit at home here, especially in contrast to the "yer not from round 'ere, are yer?" lilac number sported by Essex.
Despite this, opening bowler Jamie Porter initially makes the ground his own, removing the Notts top four after resuming his spell, following a brief rain interruption during his second over.
Matt Critchley takes the fifth, with the score on 75, at which point Tom Moores decides a counter-offensive is the only way out of this pickle.
He is right in his assessment, and it is a task to which he is well-suited, although a drop by Shane Snater at deep square leg almost brings his mission to a premature end while he has 21 runs to his name.
Moores strikes his way to 100 from just 69 balls, 72 of them made in boundaries, to rescue the innings and record his first List A century. A second downpour, while he was on 80, proved no distraction.
To compound his delight, a swirling miscue is then shelled by Essex captain Tom Westley to allow him to continue the destruction; he requires no second invitation, swiping Noah Thain for six a couple of balls later. Thanks, skip.
Showers number three and four of the day reduce the game to 48, then 46 overs per side, but Moores remains unhindered. He eventually falls for 148 from 93 deliveries, with his team's score 199 higher than when the fifth wicket fell. Duckworth, Lewis and Stern add two runs to Essex's target while more rain falls at the change of innings.
The formula's petty gesture matters not to Robin Das and Westley, who drive their team's chase past 100 in 15 overs as an exciting climax looms at the Complex. That milestone is brought up by a Jack Haynes drop in the deep, which dribbles over the boundary and also denies debutant left-arm spinner Joe Pocklington a maiden professional wicket.
The error is rectified when Das, the reprieved man, clobbers Rob Lord to Haseeb Hameed in the next over. Haynes then moves back to par with a diving effort at short midwicket, again off Lord, that prompts the departure of Westley.
Justice is done for Pocklington when he gets the moment he'll savour for life by knocking back Luc Benkenstein's middle stump; a much more pleasurable way to make your mark. Haynes did him a favour.
"Pocky" (nickname already acquired) doubles his tally of pro wickets by catching Charlie Allison off his own bowling. "Good set, Pockers!" can be heard.
The "new nickname for every wicket acquired" policy was never going to be sustainable, and it seems to stop when wicketkeeper Moores grabs a Nick Browne reverse-sweep that goes back over his head, instead of to the third man boundary. Pocklington has 3 for 53 and a debut to remember.
Lord and Lyndon James take three each for themselves and deliver a 49-run win. Nobody in the crowd is questioning their own sanity now, as the evening sun shines and everything at the Complex seems so simple.
Moores' father, Notts head coach Peter, urged his squad to remember the "great carrot" of a Trent Bridge final before this tournament began.
For now, the county's fans will settle for great carrot cake if they return here, wherever it is, for the Worcestershire game on Thursday (August 7).
Notts youngsters urged to aim for "great carrot" of Trent Bridge final
Peter Moores has urged Nottinghamshire's youngsters to use the "great carrot" of a Trent Bridge final to inspire them in this year's One Day Cup.
Notts are due to lose eight players to The Hundred, but Moores has backed young charges including Sam Seecharan and James Hayes to make a name for themselves in this year's tournament.
The club begin their campaign against Essex on Tuesday (August 5) at the John Fretwell Complex, to the north of Mansfield, their favoured outground in recent years, the first of three matches for which Australian allrounder Daniel Sams will be available.
Since the tournament has been run concurrently with The Hundred, Notts have qualified just once for the knockout stage, in 2022.
But Moores, who is delegating the team's running to assistant head coach, Paul Franks, for the tournament, says his staff are aiming to better that record in the coming weeks.
"We always go in the same way and want to win it," he told The Cricketer, following Notts' County Championship draw against Somerset. "Paul Franks is going to take it, instead of me, so it's exciting for him to take it for the first time.
"The great carrot is a final at Trent Bridge for everybody. We want to win but also to create opportunities for our young players.
"It's an opportunity for them to go out and show what they've got."
Moores noted how the One Day Cup had launched the careers of current first-teamers, including Freddie McCann and Farhan Ahmed and highlighted his players to watch this year, including allrounder Seecharan and pace bowler Hayes, who recently completed a loan spell with Sussex.
"We always lose quite a lot of players to The Hundred because we've got exciting young players and very senior T20 players," added Moores. "That has a double-whammy on us really.
"We haven't always gone down the overseas route because we want to create opportunities for our own players. We qualified two years ago and we'll be desperately looking to qualify again."
MM proved to be an important piece of the Outlaws 2025 jigsaw, which still has several pieces already missing. Can they afford to lose more?
- Sale of the H*ndred
- counties' review of the men's schedule
- the pavilion work
- The Blaze have got a final
- There's under 18s, under 16s
Nottinghamshire could be facing a fight to retain the services of their men's head coach Peter Moores amid contact with other clubs.
Moores, who has been on the coaching staff at Trent Bridge since 2015 and head coach since the end of 2016, is out of contract at Nottinghamshire at the end of the season.
The club are currently second in the County Championship table, just one point behind Surrey with five games to play. The teams play each other at The Kia Oval from September 15.
While Nottinghamshire have confirmed they would like Moores to stay, he has yet to agree a new deal and The Cricketer understands there has been contact with at least one other club.
Moores guided Lancashire to the Championship title in 2011. It was their first outright Championship title since 1934.
If Nottinghamshire were to win the Championship title this year, Moores would become the first coach to lead three different first-class counties to the Championship title. He has previously won with Sussex and Lancashire.
It may turn out that contact with other teams is an attempt to test the market before agreeing the value of a new deal at Trent Bridge. Moores declined to comment.
18/07
The umpires reported Calvin Harrison’s conduct during Notts Outlaws Vitality Blast match against Leicestershire on 6th July 2025. The matter was considered by the Match referee, Dean Cosker, who determined that the offence was at Level 1 of the ECB Professional Conduct Regulations: 1(b) wilfully mistreating any part of the cricket ground, equipment or implements used in the match.
The umpires reported Daniel Sams’ conduct during Nottinghamshire Outlaws Vitality Blast Match against Durham on 4 July 2025. The matter was considered by the Match Referee, Will Smith, who determined that the offence was at Level 1 of the ECB Professional Conduct Regulations: 1 (h) - bowling a dangerous or unfair short pitched delivery and/or accidental non pitching delivery that results in the bowler being disallowed from bowling any further in that innings.
Josh Tongue cannot survive as a Test bowler purely by mopping up the tail
Opening spell at Edgbaston was a mix of too short, too full and too wide and he is yet to damage India’s top order in this series
The Mop’ is Josh Tongue’s nickname: recognition of his capacity to clean up the tail. Ben Stokes likes to joke about Tongue’s penchant for “rabbit pie”, as he showed by celebrating at Headingley with an impression of the bowler scoffing.
Tongue’s dismantling of the tail in Leeds was instrumental in England’s victory. While England’s bottom four contributed 73 runs in their first innings, India’s mustered nine runs across both innings combined. Five of those wickets fell to Tongue in devastating spells: four for seven in the first innings and three wickets in four balls in the second. Tongue’s method was simple: bowling fast, spearing the ball in either short or at yorker length, and attacking the stumps.
Too often, England have lacked such prowess. In the 2023-25 World Test Championship, the average number of runs that England conceded for the last four wickets was the sixth worst out of nine teams.
Yet however welcome Tongue’s qualities against the tail, Test cricket requires that bowlers can do far more. Twenty20 allows for specialist death bowlers; the demands of Test cricket do not create scope for such a role. Quick bowlers must be effective in all climes – or, at least, maintain control when they are not incisive.
As the clock ticked towards noon on the opening morning at Edgbaston, Stokes handed Tongue the ball. In their contrasting ways – Chris Woakes bowling fuller with more swing, Brydon Carse bowling shorter and with extra pace – England’s quicks both bowled immaculate opening spells. After 11 overs, India had stumbled to 21 for one; both batsmen at the crease had needed an umpire’s call to survive lbw appeals against Woakes.
Tongue needed only three balls to alter the feel of the morning – just not as he had hoped. After his first delivery was tucked away for one by Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tongue then greeted Karun Nair with a pair of half-volleys. Both deliveries met the same fate: Nair caressed the ball through the covers for four.
It set the template for Tongue’s opening spell. Where Woakes and Carse had been relentlessly probing, Tongue was by turns too short and too full – and often too wide to boot. Tongue leaked eight boundaries in his first spell, culminating in three consecutive fours by Jaiswal: an imperious hook through square leg, then back-to-back cut shots, jumping up on his toes like a meerkat peeking over a wall. By the time that Tongue’s six-over spell was over, he nursed figures of nought for 42; India had raced to 91 for one.
While England bowled admirably on a flat pitch for much of the day, Tongue emphatically ranked bottom of the captain’s list of preferred bowlers. Indeed, with England seeking wickets with the short ball when the ball had gone soft, Stokes opted to use himself. Tongue only bowled 10 of India’s first 73 overs.
When he returned, he was given an orthodox field, with two slips. While there was a tantalising hint of reverse swing, Tongue only bowled a perfunctory three overs until Joe Root was whisked on before the second new ball. In the opening day, Tongue conceded 66 from 13 wicket-less overs.
These figures extend Tongue’s travails against India’s top order this summer. Bowling to the top six across the first two Tests, Tongue has now taken one for 188 from 43.3 overs: a record that explains Stokes’ reluctance to bowl him on the first day in Birmingham.
In his first Test appearances, Tongue showed no such struggles against the top order. Indeed, in his second Test, at Lord’s against Australia in 2023, all of Tongue’s wickets were top-order players, including dismissing David Warner and Steve Smith twice apiece. At his best, Tongue’s cocktail of pace approaching 90mph, an awkward angle from wide of the crease and seam movement can trouble the world’s very best.
But after returning from an injury-ruined 18 months this summer, Tongue has only threatened India’s best batsmen for occasional balls, not whole overs or extended spells. And, however brilliant Tongue was against the tail in Leeds, his record there against the lower-order is not sustainable for any bowler.
If he is to enjoy the extended Test run that his talents suggest, then, Tongue will have to be much more than a mop. The sight of Jofra Archer carrying the drinks at Edgbaston showed the alternative that England will soon be able to summon instead.
First-Class Most Fifties in Consecutive Innings
| 10 | GE Tyldesley | 1926 |
| 10 | DG Bradman | 1947/48 - 1948 |
| 10 | RS Kaluwitharana | 1994/95 |
| 9 | TW Hayward | 1906 |
| 9 | WR Hammond | 1932/33 - 1933 |
| 9 | VS Hazare | 1942/43 - 1943/44 |
| 9 | RB Simpson | 1959/60 |
| 9 | JH Edrich | 1965 |
| 9 | C Saldanha | 1986/87 |
| 8 | CB Fry | 1900 |
| 8 | CB Fry | 1901 - 1902 |
| 8 | DG Bradman | 1937/38 - 1938 |
| 8 | WJ Edrich | 1939 |
| 8 | B Sutcliffe | 1946/47 - 1947/48 |
| 8 | GS Blewett | 2000/01 |
| 8 | A Flower | 2000/01 |
| 8 | MA Wagh | 2007 |
| 7 | TW Hayward | 1900 |
| 7 | CP McGahey | 1901 |
| 7 | C Hill | 1906/07 - 1907/08 |
| 7 | GE Tyldesley | 1919 |
| 7 | W Bardsley | 1923/24 - 1924/25 |
| 7 | FE Woolley | 1924 |
| 7 | DE Pritchard | 1924/25 |
| 7 | CP Mead | 1927/28 - 1928 |
| 7 | WR Hammond | 1930 - 1930/31 |
| 7 | WW Whysall | 1930 |
| 7 | DG Bradman | 1933/34 - 1934 |
| 7 | AL Hassett | 1936/37 |
| 7 | J Hardstaff | 1937 |
| 7 | DG Bradman | 1938 - 1938/39 |
| 7 | SG Barnes | 1940/41 - 1945/46 |
| 7 | VM Merchant | 1943/44 - 1944/45 |
| 7 | RS Cooper | 1944/45 |
| 7 | WR Hammond | 1945 - 1946 |
| 7 | WJ Edrich | 1947 |
| 7 | AR Morris | 1948 |
| 7 | L Hutton | 1948/49 |
| 7 | L Hutton | 1949 - 1950 |
| 7 | RT Simpson | 1949 |
| 7 | DJ McGlew | 1955 |
| 7 | RE Marshall | 1959 |
| 7 | G Pullar | 1959 |
| 7 | Hanif Mohammad | 1961/62 |
| 7 | PH Parfitt | 1962 |
| 7 | RA McLean | 1962/63 - 1963/64 |
| 7 | RB Simpson | 1964 |
| 7 | AL Wadekar | 1967 - 1967/68 |
| 7 | CPS Chauhan | 1971/72 - 1972/73 |
| 7 | DB Vengsarkar | 1977/78 - 1978/79 |
| 7 | GR Viswanath | 1977/78 |
| 7 | IVA Richards | 1979 - 1979/80 |
| 7 | Sadiq Mohammad | 1979 |
| 7 | HR Fotheringham | 1981/82 - 1982/83 |
| 7 | DW Hookes | 1981/82 - 1982/83 |
| 7 | G Boycott | 1982 |
| 7 | AD Gaekwad | 1982/83 |
| 7 | Zaheer Abbas | 1982/83 |
| 7 | TA Lloyd | 1983 - 1984 |
| 7 | Rizwan-uz-Zaman | 1983/84 - 1984/85 |
| 7 | DB Vengsarkar | 1986/87 |
| 7 | KC Wessels | 1986/87 - 1987/88 |
| 7 | A Kapoor | 1987/88 - 1988/89 |
| 7 | Mansoor Rana | 1988/89 |
| 7 | RB Parikh | 1988/89 - 1989/90 |
| 7 | CS Pandit | 1989/90 - 1990/91 |
| 7 | GA Hick | 1990 |
| 7 | WV Raman | 1991/92 - 1992/93 |
| 7 | MS Atapattu | 1994/95 |
| 7 | RT Ponting | 2001 - 2001/02 |
| 7 | DS Lehmann | 2002 |
| 7 | PA Cottey | 2003 |
| 7 | IR Bell | 2004 |
| 7 | HD Ackerman | 2006 - 2006/07 |
| 7 | PA Patel | 2007/08 |
| 7 | Sarfraz Ahmed | 2008/09 - 2009 |
| 7 | W Jaffer | 2009/10 - 2010/11 |
| 7 | A McGrath | 2010 |
| 7 | Usman Salahuddin | 2010/11 |
| 7 | ME Trescothick | 2011 |
| 7 | MA Carberry | 2013 - 2013/14 |
| 7 | LM Reece | 2013 |
| 7 | DAS Gunaratne | 2014/15 |
| 7 | KL Rahul | 2016/17 - 2017 |
| 7 | R Jonathan | 2018/19 |
| 7 | RJ Burns | 2021 |
| 7 | KND Perera | 2022 - 2022/23 |
| 7 | KNM Fernando | 2022/23 |
| 7 | LM Reece | 2023 |
| 7 | BT Slater | 2025 |
The list shows occurrences of 7 or more
Following non-event throw of the ball towards Fin Bean(?) last week, the independent woke committee, otherwise known as the cricket regulator has released this verdict (remember that Notts gave away 5 penalty runs already for the incident). Dillon's first offence was whilst he played for Worcestershire:
Dillon Pennington has received an automatic 2 match suspension having received 9 fixed penalty points within 24 months. Any player who receives a total of 9 or more fixed penalty points is awarded an automatic suspension.
The umpires reported Dillon Pennington’s conduct during Nottinghamshire CCC’s County Championship match against Yorkshire CCC on 23 June 2025.
The matter was considered by the Match Referee, Phil Whitticase, who determined that this was an offence under paragraph 4.5 - Level 2(d) of the ECB Professional Conduct Regulations (‘PCRs’). Dillon Pennington breached Level 2(d) by "Throwing the ball at or near a player, umpire or another person in an inappropriate and dangerous manner.”
The fixed penalty for this offence is 6 points due to this being his second level 2 offence in 24 months. Mr Pennington had received 3 fixed penalty points, on 29/07/2023, for a previous breach of level 2(d). This total of 9 penalty points invokes an automatic two match suspension from 1st XI cricket.
Dillon Pennington is therefore suspended for the next two Nottinghamshire fixtures being the County Championship match away at Somerset starting on 29 June and the Vitality Blast match between the Notts Outlaws and Durham on 4 July.
I know I missed one of these. Confirmed on cricinfo, so it must be right just like Sam Hain being out LBW on Saturday.
The Outlaws next game is at the County Ground Derby.
"Ttent" Bridge yesterday evening announced that home Vitality Blast fixtures this season will have new hosts.
81 NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteHope the fireworks are back and the boundary blasts of flame . Gave the match a better sense of occasion . The waving of the BIG FLAGS was pretty humdrum by comparison!?
No flames, no flags just a few sparkles at the beginning.
DeleteWill never understand why they signed mckerr in the first place ?
ReplyDeleteChilwell outlaw
on the qt I have been told PM has offers from multple counties and International aswell - the sly old fox is trying bump up his worth
ReplyDeleteRoge
Unfortunately, he will probably stay with Notts, as Newell will pay him whatever sum he demands.
ReplyDeleteBill
Nottinghamshire are no longer a competitive T20 team, unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteBetween 2010 and 2021 in only one of the years did Notts fail to qualify for a home QF (2015). They won the trophy twice (2017, 2020), and in a further three seasons were knocked out at the semi-final stage (2010, 2016, 2019).
Trent Bridge was regularly sold-out on Friday nights, it was tricky to find tickets if you hadn't bought in advance by the Wednesday before. T20 Friday nights were a great event.
I feel quite sorry for the kids who go along these days to a half-full TB to watch pretty damp squib games.
I was told on Friday that he has an offer from Hampshire that includes the Southern Brave very hard to keep him if that’s on the table
ReplyDeleteRich
82 NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteOn the whole Peter Moores has been good for Notts during his time at the Club . He certainly talks a good fight . But after so many years at Notts are we ready for a change of Head Coach and perhaps a fresh approach and new ideas ? Being in one place for such a comparative long time can lead to staleness and lack of motivation . If he vacates then who gets the job ? Is the GENERAL ready ?
I agree. After 9 years at Trent Bridge, it is time for a change. James
ReplyDeleteI didn't know he was overseeing the redevelopment of the pavilion as well, wow good to no it's in safe hands 🤣🤣🤣
ReplyDeleteWe need a new direction for our club it
Needs new ideas & a new direction
Ex executive member
Who else is going to oversee the DoC Suite in the new pavilion?
ReplyDeleteMN lists the groups who he claims he is representing the views of. Members not mentioned, unless under the word "club", but I think not. To him "club": seems to be a very small number of people, including him.
ReplyDeleteMembers are represented by the General Committee rather than MN - Kermit
DeleteYes the GC is supposed to be entrusted to give members a voice, but when members think one thing and then GC say the opposite, then we have a deviation from the system and a breakdown in that trust.
DeleteFascinating stats re List A ties for Notts. Do remember a superb ODI at Trent Bridge in 1989 tied, England v Australia.
ReplyDelete82 NOT OUT
ReplyDeletePETITION SIGNED AND FORWARDED ON !
Its a worthy cause . We are all fed up with being overwhelmed with new housing . They are everywhere and green and pleasant land is fast diminishing
Re Clipstone, change and decay there and widely in cricket.
ReplyDeleteSorry, confused, is there a delay ?
ReplyDeleteNo delay as far as we know. Work WILL NOT BE COMPLETED READY FOR NEXT SEASON, as the club are advertising the clubhouse as a perk of membership for 2026.
DeleteAnyway, I thought the Romans left Britain in the 5th Century, about the same time an English cricketer last gave any money away.
ReplyDeleteDepends if you ascribe to the theory that King Arthur was a Romano-Briton, or not. King Arthur being an opening bat for Notts and England obviously.
DeleteI was told they have it a issue with the foundations not being strong enough to take the weight of the new building
ReplyDeleteIn the old day they would build when they
Hit solid ground & concrete in today's form
First appeared in the early 1920 the pavilion proceeded well before that so may be some truth in that rumour & remember that was the same excuse with the overspend to the six could lighting strike twice & they did there du diligence 😳
Ex executive member
That’s rather ironic - the Foundations sung Build Me Up 🆙 (or perhaps not in this case) Buttercup, don’t break my heart ❤️!!!!
ReplyDelete82 NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteFoundations are the most imporrant part of any building .
They had better get this right
With millions of pounds involved they cannot afford to take any chances .The new Pavilion would I assume be designed to last at least 75 years and possibly 100 or more?
Better to delay things and miss the 2026 season than risk getting it wrong
Certainly a massive possible headache for the constructors .
Is any more information available or is it just rumours about the buildings delay ?
Unsure foundations. Cue metaphor about Notts or even cricket, if you like. Just rumours and speculation Richard, with some basis with the observed lack of/ minimal progress.
Delete"Good Foundations" by the Beach Boys
DeleteHow about that then? Horace
It's all sounds very concerning
ReplyDeleteA contractor that most people in the construction industry haven't heard of
A very small architectural practice that lacks experience in this sort of development process both with what we have a saying for in the construction industry, not much meat on the bones if things go wrong 😳
What could go wrong, costs for labour & materials are going through the roof this is not a quick fix it's a very complexed 2 year build, that money from the hundred you may think can't come quick enough
For the powers that be
Ex executive member
Thanks. As a non expert, this deeply troubles me. Despite events of recent times, I still love the club. As a former member, for decades, I velieve the club needs to be transparent on all issues. Only through this can trust be rebuilt between Exec amd Members.
Delete82 NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteForgot to add on my last posting
“We don’t want to be standing at the bar with a pint and get that sinking feeling!”
So we are saying, prior to further information on possible foundation issues, the project is already over budget ? This due to the soaring costs of material and labour, as talked about in above posting ? If so, should the club exec not be informing the members of this ? Was the budgeted cost of the project ever put in the public, and in particular members' domain ?
ReplyDeleteRe these issues, and with the fact that I am totally not an expert on this
ReplyDeleteAI, asked about building project delays and cancellations due to building cost inflation, says :
"Yes, building projects are being delayed and canceled due to building cost inflation, as higher material prices and other increased costs reduce profitability and make projects financially unviable for developers. While the market has stabilized since post-2022 volatility, material costs remain elevated, and the combination of these costs with other challenges, such as labour shortages, continues to impact project timelines and viability."
So not stating any opinion or making any accusation here, but as issue has been around since at least 2022, did the Club take it into account, and budget for it, in giving the green light to the project ? A big house building project quite close to the TB ground, has- been mothballed for 2 years now, due to these issues.
Trying to be objective here, as it is true I have always been against the project, but that now being a pointless debate. But project management is very much a live debate.
From Rich
Delete82 NOT OUT
DeletePerhaps an official statement from the Club regarding the current and future status of the Pavilion re build might be in order ?
There is nothing to be gained from the apparent lack of true information about progress made so far . Rumours of serious problems and potential completion dates are far from helpful .
Well the gate man who's been on YouTube giving a site update in which I've just watched
ReplyDeleteSeems the man in the know from costs to build schedule, he said the the internal steel supports were going in that week that was well over a month ago still no steel ?
They may need a rocket up there arse
Excuse the pun 🤣🤣🤣
Ex executive member
82 NOT OUT
DeleteYES A TRENT ROCKET !
Anyone know tonight’s attendance at TB for the Men’s Rocket match
There's the problem with cross-over of cricket supporters "supporting" a franchise there in a nutshell. The host venue team containing players from six different counties, none of which were from the host county, playing against an eleven containing three players from the hosting county. County supporters' alliegiances run deep.
Delete82NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteI dont see how a close relationship can be formed to any franchise team because the players used are swappped and changed round willy nilly .
Supporters of the 100 are just basically attached to the team name as opposed to who plays in it .
It comes down to money and the highest bidder each year .
Perhaps that’s what the “ new breed” of fans want ? Fresh , exciting faces on a regular basis !?
".....the advertising of the Clubhouse for 2026..."
ReplyDeleteFrom main article above, 27/8. Hope not being dense, but what is meant by "the clubhose", where is the advert, and what is bei g advertised, and to who, please ? Many thanks.
"A perk of membership" Rich - the Clubhouse, the stand-in Long Room.
DeleteThanks helps, but are they advertising the current substitute one in the DR restaurant, or one to be created ? The famous old one sadly gone. In other words are they still up for 2026 new paviion, or hedging their bets ?
DeleteClubhouse, formerly known as the Derek Randall Suite. Still known as the Derek Randall Suite when there are EGMs or on bank statements when you buy a bacon cob.
DeleteAnd rightly so, we all love him ! So club indicating doubts over Pavilion being ready for 2026. Clouds gathering here as I type, and metaphorically for NCCC ?
DeleteIf "foundationgate" true. With wonky pavilion, as Jerry Lee sang, there will be "a whole lot of rocking on".
ReplyDeleteDo not have total faith in "AI", but it does draw widely from reliable net sources. This makes it very likely that the project is , as we strongly suspect, behind schedule. Reasons given do not sound very convincing. None of this saying the club has admitted it is late, just that evidence from the net supports that liklihood.
ReplyDelete"Work on the new Trent Bridge Pavilion redevelopment has faced delays, with the project now aiming for a 2026 completion, a shift from its original opening target of Spring last year. These delays have been attributed to factors like difficulties with weather and coordination between trades. Despite the delay, the project is proceeding with external government grant funding, though the wider council faces financial constraints."
Interesting where money is coming from. I thought it was a bank loan ? Public funding likely to be very unpopular with many what with big cuts to social services etc. Assuming "government" means local ?
Did not know there was ever a target of Spring 2025 ?
Some of the funding, from what I have been able to find out (others have more info ?) Some, not all of the funding, does come from Nottingham CC and Rushcliffe BC. Sure we all have our views i
DeleteOn that. Mine are of anger TBH.
check out https://nottsview.blogspot.com/2025/07/pavilion-progress.html Rich for the link at the end of July.
DeleteBut respect other views, and will withdraw from any debate on public funding. A bit too raw as a disabled person.
ReplyDeleteMembers were told by Chair that funding was via "Commercial loans" for the first time by the club. AI may have cobbled together articles of various projects from the recent past.
DeleteThat is a relief thanks , I may still go there, and now don't trust AI at all.
ReplyDeleteSorry if misled you, the jnfirmation I double checked, but was plain wrong.
Delete82 NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteLISA -100 Ball Supremo
Surprise surprise
( I don’t think )
She has always been keen on the 100 Comp since day 1
Could turn out to be a pretty lucrative move . Who can blame her?
Certainly can’t blame her but just another example of another conflict of interest .if true hope the chairman has not been aware of this as won’t go down well on Thursday
DeleteRich
I think it's a clear case of conflict of interest. What's happened to Notts?
ReplyDelete82 NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteA toe hold in both camps .
Nice work if you can get it .
Heads I win - tails you lose .
This as been on the cards well before the franchise sale, The main issue is when she goes she as no influence on Notts ccc but you can guarantee she will have the last word on her successor so that she can still pull the strings, again not a conflict of interest
ReplyDeleteNever mind lord Charles she the puppet master & she pulls is strings he needs to go before he sells us down the Trent
Ex executive member
Has the sale of the franchise actually been finalised now?
DeleteNo still to be agreed
DeleteNot going to say anything unpleasant. Although disagreeing with her on many issues, my experience is that she is a kind woman and far more capable at management than I ever was.
ReplyDeleteBut I really think, for everyone, it is the right time for her to lrave Trent Bridge completely. There is too much history, and as said by Dave I think, mistrust. There will be so many other opportunities in sport management, including in the East Mids.
Was this appointment the plan right from the time she announced her stepping down as Notts CCC CEO back in April (or whenever it was)? Would it be unfair to question her objectivity in her thought processes surrounding scheduling, with all the talk about future expansion of the franchise tournament?
DeleteWell said
ReplyDeleteRemember watching that astonishing day as had dish tv 📺 back then from old Trafford in 2010
ReplyDeleteAdam Voges didn’t do too much for us overall - but he certainly stood up that day with his brilliant hundred alongside Samit’s more aggressive innings
C’mon HBD - we need one of your pre-match previews for Wednesday’s vital championship match !!!!
The above ⬆️ was from me !
Delete82 NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of a cricket season what is the main aim of the 18 County Clubs ?
To win the County Championship ?
To win the 20 over BLAST comp ?
To win the 50 over METRO CUP?
The money is in winning the Blast .
But the real prestige is winning the Championship . That’s what you are remembered for in the following seasons .
The Metro Cup produces some fine matches and some decent crowds - but who remembers the winners?
Notts have failed in two Competitions this season but the main prize looks theirs to lose .
Weather forecast looks pretty reasonable until the end of this week so hopefully Notts can get the few points they need . Will they go all out for a win - or settle for a safe draw to win the silverware ?
What sort of pitch will be prepared ? Who will be in the final ELEVEN come Wednesday morning ? Moores has to get it right !