.JPG)
Trent Bridge Pravda
Top-order batter Matthew Montgomery has signed a three-year deal with Nottinghamshire which will keep him at the club until the conclusion of the 2025 season.
The 22-year-old has impressed since slotting into the Green and Golds’ four-day side during the latter part of the recently concluded campaign, amassing 369 runs in eight innings, including a maiden First-Class hundred against Durham.
The right-hander also accrued 311 runs at an average of 44.42 in the Royal London Cup in 2022, in addition to 200 scored in 2021, and has claimed five wickets with his off-spin for the Outlaws in List A Cricket.
“It’s been a great honour to have had the opportunity to play at Trent Bridge, and to extend my stay here is really pleasing.” Montgomery said.
“Since making my First-Class debut with the club, I have been determined to show others and myself what I can do at this level, and that hundred against Durham was, I suppose, vindication for a lot of effort that has gone into the last few years.
“I still have a lot more to give and improvements to make to my game, and I know that the best place for me to continue my development as a player is at Nottinghamshire.”
Montgomery made his initial bow for Nottinghamshire as a trialist in 2019, after moving from Durban to begin his studies at Loughborough University.
He returned post-pandemic in the early stages of 2021, and scored 302 runs in nine innings for the Second XI, including 147 against Warwickshire and 67 against Durham, prior to signing his first professional deal with the club.
In September, Montgomery was presented with the John Pye Player of the Month Award, having scored 178 in Nottinghamshire's title-sealing victory over Durham.
“What has stood out for everyone watching on, is how Matt has handled himself since getting into the first team. He has a calmness and composure when he bats, and that bodes well at such a young age.” said Head Coach Peter Moores.
“He deserves a lot of credit as he dominated Second XI cricket, before earning his place in the County Championship team when Ben Duckett was called up for the Lions.
“He has already played some crucial innings for us, none more so than his hundred against Durham in an important game. That innings, along with his 80 against Glamorgan stand out, in terms of the way he managed himself through some really challenging phases of the game.
“He has the ability to play across all three formats, too, and he showed a different side to his game during the Royal London competition. This winter gives him another opportunity to move his game forward to be ready for 2023.”
Well done to Matt. He has certainly made the most of his opportunities and can certainly adapt to play both 4 day red ball and 50 over white ball formats. Haven’t seen enough of him in t20 for the stiffs to comment on this format
ReplyDeleteOf course the big irony is, if Ben Duckett had not been selected by England would Matt even have got an opportunity in the championship this season as it would have meant Head coach Peter dropping his ‘second son’ Joe Clarke, which I suspect although was warranted due to very average form, would have been very unlikely to happen and Matt would have just returned to the stiffs again for the rest of this season after doing well in the RLODC.
Well deserved very good prospect
ReplyDeleteWell done Matt, he's taken advantage of the door that was left open by Joey Evison leaving & Ben Duckett being remembered by England, and made the most of it. A great innings this week v Durham.
ReplyDeleteNo news on Haseeb Hameed or Dane Schadendorf? Perhaps that news isn't so good for Notts supporters - I certainly hope it isn't.
ReplyDeleteI would like to think that Hameed would remain loyal to the County that gave him the chance to resurrect his career. He could also be the future captain when Mullaney decides its time to step down. Although I am being naive?
ReplyDeleteI think Hameed will remain at Notts, on a much improved 3 year contract. Schadendorf, may well go the route of Evison and Budinger, as he is unlikely to un seat Moores junior any time soon.
ReplyDeleteOne thing for sure, if Duckett is available for championship cricket, come next season, either one of Clarke, Slater on Montgomery will be left out of the starting line up, or even 2 of them if Notts sign an overseas batsman.
I thought we were certain to go for an overseas batsman now we’re back in Div One facing decent attacks but now Frank Bruno(sorry James Patto) has gone and won’t be returning as originally planned have we any idea what we will get out of Jake Ball and/or Ollie Stone in red ball cricket ? But if so, what an awful situation for cautious Peter and his un-droppable favourite(s)
DeleteCompletely agree about Hameed. He has fully deserved a new, much improved, 3 year deal. We are happy to pay top dollar for our ‘golden boys’ so they’ll just have to cough up for Hameed. A top class opener will be absolutely vital next season
There’s a strong case for saying that Hameed and Jennings are a stronger opening pair than Crawley and Lees. So any new deal for HH needs to be akin to that of an international player.
ReplyDeleteI think Slater was a bit better this season than his figures suggest. But I also think that Duckett is likely to feature for England quite a bit next season so we are in effect a batsman or two light.
Jim G