Peter Moores' Summary of the BWT Season

 

Matt Davies has had an interview for Nottinghamshire Live (below) with Peter Moores on the subject of the Bob Willis Trophy, which has now concluded for Nottinghamshire, a season that was winless and 40% of games ended in defeats.

Peter Moores makes case for Nottinghamshire progress after winless Bob Willis Trophy campaign

Notts failed to win a game but the statistics suggest they are moving in the right direction

Nottinghamshire's wait for a four-day win will be extended into a third year after failing to secure a victory in the Bob Willis Trophy.

Notts finished fourth in their six team group with two draws from five games, meaning they are without a win since June 2018.

However, head coach Peter Moores feels that does not tell the full story with the statistics there to back up his case for his new look team being on the right track.

Notts secured 20 batting points, at least six more than any other county, and their 15 bowling points were matched only by Somerset and Kent.

Ben Slater (76) and Ben Duckett (56.29) were both in the top ten for batting average, although Slater played his first game on loan at Leicestershire, while Matt Carter (11 wickets at 23.90) and Zak Chappell (15 wickets at 28.73) can point to good progress with the ball.

Though second innings frailties remain - see their defeats to Derbyshire and in particular Yorkshire - Moores is confident his largely young team moved in the right direction during their coronavirus curtailed campaign.

"I would say what I've always said. We've lost a lot of experience and we're building a new team," he said when asked what he would say to supporters who point out their barren run.

"That can take a bit of time. What I would say is, you're looking for progression.

"Haseeb Hameed and Ben Slater look like they're forming a positive opening partnership.

"The top five look really settled with Duckett, Clarke and Mullaney. Tom Moores had a really good season behind the sticks and showed he's getting form back to his red ball batting.

"Zak Chappell hit his stride in his second season. Matt Carter is still developing as a spin bowler but showed he can control a game.

"There's lots of positives with a lot of younger guys. Lyndon James and Sol Budinger have really moved forward this summer.

"We're trying to establish a competitive team but also build through our own system for the long term.

"Statistically, they've all improved. Those first two games were really tough for the lads.

"Setting Derbyshire 365, you don't expect to lose, but experience wise, Luke Fletcher didn't bowl a ball in the tournament.

"We didn't brink Mohammad Abbas over and then we lost Jake Ball for three games. We've seen guys like Joey Evison, Lyndon James and Tom Barber play. They'll all be better for the experiece.

"The season was about trying to win every game and showing we can commit to red ball in the same way as white ball - and I think the lads played in a way befitting of the club.

"In another season you would have got over the line a couple of times. A few more overs and we'd have beaten Durham.

"We lost time to rain against Lancashire and Leicestershire. You have to take that on the chin.

"We're frustrated we didn't win a match, but we won the first innings of every game, which is pretty rare.

"You can see a side building. The indicators for me are more batting points than anyone in the country and level with anybody for bowling points.

"I would say our first innings average score was around 350, which is the key to building a team.

"You have had Ben Slater and Ben Duckett getting two hundreds, one of them for Leicester for Ben Slater, but that consistency is important.

"Every game came down to the last session and was very competitive, so there's a lot to take away for next year."

Moores admits there is still work to do, not least mentally, in order to get that next win.

They had plenty of chances to do so this season, not least against Yorkshire, when they were bowled out for just 97 when chasing a target of 188 at Trent Bridge.

They look to have forgotten how to win, but the former England coach still hopes that was a watershed moment for the team.

"The first thing you have to do when you're losing games is to stop that, start drawing and playing well," he said.

"Then you have to learn to win in different scenarios. We have to do that still.

"We have to wait till next year now. That has to be a driver for us in the winter - to get that first win.

"The first one is the toughest. Winning normally is a byproduct of everything else you're doing.

"When you get windows to drive it home you have to do it. We learned a big lesson against Yorkshire.

"That was a big moment to sit down and have a real heart to heart about throwing away an unbelievable opportunity to win a game.

"They took it on the chin and knew that at that moment, it's not that they weren't up for it, but they hadn't steeled themselves to enjoy the challenge. Since that moment, someone has always stepped up.

"On points I think we finished ninth out of the 18 counties, which is about where we are as a team. We have to get better.

"We played well enough to win, but unfortunately it didn't happen and that's what we have to chase."

I'm sure when youngsters: Mullaney, Nash, Trego and Patel settle down we'll be a great side. Jake Ball and Ben Slater are both 29 years old. "Largely young side" - who is he kidding?

Evison, James and Barber played 4 games between them?

Sol Budinger didn't play a match but "has really moved forward".

What ever medication Peter is on, I want some please!