NCCC News: Not Before Time

 

07/02

The General Takes Charge in the Metro

Not Before Time

Could this be the start of the overdue transition and exit of the current head coach?

Nottinghamshire’s Assistant Head Coach Paul Franks will take on Head Coach responsibilities for this summer’s Metro Bank One Day Cup.

Franks, who enjoyed a 20-year playing career with his home county, moved into a leadership role with the Second XI in 2013, leading the side to the Championship title in 2015 before officially retiring at the end of that summer.

In the winter of 2016, the Mansfield-born all-rounder became the club’s Assistant Head Coach, a role he has served in ever since.

During that time, the Outlaws have claimed T20 titles in 2017 and 2020, won the One-Day Cup in 2017 and earned promotion to Division One as champions in 2022.

Franks will continue as assistant for this summer’s Rothesay County Championship and Vitality Blast campaigns, before stepping into the lead role for a 50-over competition which concludes with a final at Trent Bridge.

“It’s an exciting prospect to have this different level of responsibility and a chance to look at things slightly differently,” he said.

“That incentive of a home final is there for us to grab - you never know how many times you’ll have an opportunity like that as a player, so you have to try and take it. But we have to earn the right to compete in a game of that magnitude.

“I’ll ask our players to be excited about playing for Notts, and to aim high. There will be competition for places, so there’ll be tough decisions to be made, but I want lads to feel that they’ve got to work to earn a place in our side.

“We want to compete, we want to maintain that connection with the people that come to watch us, and we’ll do what we can to create something that will last long in the memory.”

Prior to his elevation to the Assistant Head Coach role at Notts, Franks spent time as Assistant Coach for the UAE’s national side during the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

He returned to the nation in 2021 to coach with Team Abu Dhabi in the T10 League, and was part of Andy Flower’s Trent Rockets backroom team between 2021 and 2024, winning the competition in 2022.

Alongside fellow Trent Bridge alumnus Bilal Shafayat, he led Central Punjab to Pakistan’s domestic 50-over title in 2023.

“After almost 30 years at Trent Bridge, Paul knows the club and its culture better than almost anyone else – and crucially, he understands the standards required of a Nottinghamshire cricketer,” said Director of Cricket Mick Newell.

“In both on and off-field roles, we’re keen to help people to develop and move forwards in their professional careers, and Paul has earned this opportunity to take the next step as a leader within our setup.

“With the likes of Kevin Shine and Ant Botha supporting him, our 50-over side will benefit from an experienced coaching team as they look to return to the knockout stages.”

06/02

NOTTS FINALLY GET THEIR MAN

Pakistan international Mohammad Abbas has signed for Nottinghamshire, and will be available for six fixtures in the Rothesay County Championship.

The right-armer, who has 755 First-Class wickets to his name at an average of 20.62, will begin his stint in May, following the conclusion of Fergus O'Neill's month-long spell with the side.

He will then return to the club in September for the closing stages of the Rothesay County Championship season.

Abbas joins fellow seamer O'Neill and South Africa international Kyle Verreynne in agreeing terms as an overseas player for the upcoming red-ball campaign, with Conor McKerr (three-year contract) and Daniel Sams (Blast) having also joined the club ahead of the new season.

“Trent Bridge is a special place to play cricket, so it will be great to call the ground home this summer - especially after not being able to come over and play for Notts five years ago,” he said.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time in the English game, and the squad at Notts is in an exciting place.

“There’s a good blend of young talent and senior players who’ve been around for a while and know their game really well, and I’m looking forward to contributing in any way that I can to their success.”

Abbas originally agreed to join Nottinghamshire for the 2020 season, before the Covid-19 pandemic left him unable to represent the club that summer.

In subsequent years, the 34-year-old has represented Hampshire, taking 180 wickets at 19.07 across four summers in Southampton, with successive 50-wicket seasons in 2022 and 2023.

His First-Class form has led to a recall to the Pakistan Test side in recent weeks, with his two appearances against South Africa this winter among 30 caps in red and white-ball formats.

In total, Abbas has 101 international wickets, while his domestic record also includes 79 wickets for Leicestershire between 2018 and 2019.

“Players of Mo’s experience and track record don’t come around all that often, so we’re really excited about what he can bring to us this summer,” said Head Coach Peter Moores.

“His control and his ability to find a way of getting wickets on any sort of surface make him extremely valuable; he’s certainly been a tough opponent for us to face over the years.

“We’ve already got an exciting group of bowlers at our disposal for the summer, and the addition of Mo’s craft and subtlety will add a different style of bowling to the rest of our attack.”

05/02

Tomorrow sees the start of the Legend 90 League 2025 in Raipur, India.

See here

Games will be of a 90 ball format - so F15 as you might label it, which is much catchier that the flavour of hour's The S16.2 which is getting all of the attention at the moment.

There's, as the competition's name suggests, a number old has-beens included in the sides., including a number of former Notts Outlaws. How many can you spot?

Not a "Big Boy" but a "Giant"!

03/02

Richard Hadlee tale - I don't know how you [Andy Easom] would have stumbled across recording but cheers for putting in the public domain. It's worth a listen.

02/02

Just Desserts

Joe Clarke, whilst playing within the rules, committed one of those sins* that ought to be made illegal on a cricket field.

Batting but struggling to get the ball away, towards the end of his latest desert slogfest T20 game, Joe Clarke decided to retire out for 29(22 balls). In the next 8 deliveries his side lost three more wickets while scoring just 2 runs. His side lost by 26 runs.

* Nottsview's consistent opinion regardless of player, team or circumstances

31/01

There's no denying its existence. You can't even disguise it. The white elephant, the under-utilised carbuncle that resides on top of the media centre in the Radcliffe Road stand otherwise known as Restaurant Six (not that fits the definition of a restaurant as it doesn't serve food to paying diners), Lisa'a Folly has found more booze to flog off if that's your cup of tea....

Restaurant Six will be shining a light on its finest whiskies on the evening of Thursday 24 April, featuring insight from Balvenie's resident expert. Getting underway with a reception from 7pm, guests will be treated to four handpicked whiskies and a selection of complimentary nibbles. Limited spaces are available - book your spot below.

Balvenie evening: secure your spot

SOLD OUT 

Beware the Ides of March as the drone guys will be back at Trent Bridge, wind permitting, this time the theme is the Wizard of Oz. No spoilers but there will be a bit of wind in some shape or form and perhaps a 16-0 scoreline.

But maybe those moneybags members will be here

29/01

Trent Rock*t Fixtures Here 2025

5-fer Farhan but he can't force a win

27/01

Olly Stone

26/01

Farhan 90 for England u19

25/01

Notts Set For Abu Dhabi Jolly Again you can join them too.

Why not, it produced good results the last time didn't it. Oh wait and minute...

23/01

Something you haven't read on Pravda: After five wins on the bounce, in the first of the knock-out stages, The Moores Stars crashed out of the Big Bash. Pravda had gone out of its way to send plaudits of the string of five victories, inspired by the performances Mr Maxwell mainly.

Alex Hales and Joe Clarke continue to perform fair-average with just a couple of fifties between them in the past week or so, in the desert of the UAE franchise competition where if there were trees, then Olly Stone wouldn't be ripping them up either. In shout, nothing to shout about, so Pravda have been silent.

Silent is what Chair Hunt and the CEO have been about the progress of discussions about the sell-off by the ECB of the summer- they had promised to keep us informed...

20/01

At Trent Bridge obviously...

Unless you're buying for a group of people, I'm not seeing any substantial incentive to give Trent Bridge your money before match days, certainly not three months (with interest) in advance.

If you were that keen, you'd have bought a membership or Blast Pass, surely.

If you were looking at the weather as a factor for attending or not, a two pound saving buys you very little at Trent Bridge, so why would you bother? Is that the cost of an out of date scorecard for this season?

If you have an alternative spin on this pricing structure, please share it.

Zak Bess Returns after Liam Price Departs

19/01

Cue Pravda "momentum spiel"

LLLLLWWWWWL

It's amazing what Christmas did for the Moores Stars' fortunes, perhaps we can have Christmas in May too.

What's Maxwell doing for the Blast in 2025?

19/01

ALL'S MAX-WELL THAT ENDS WELL FOR PETER?

Veteren head coach Peter Moores' Stars have knock-out stages qualification within their own power to reach, even with the worst net run rate of their competitors after a dismal run of results before the New Year. Just a point will clinch fourth spot. No Duckett but an inform Maxwell does.

And so it proved.

17/01

Last year they managed successfully to clear some of the whiskey stocks from the Radcliffe Road White Elephant, so this year it's the gin stocks...

Pravda shamelessly says:

Our sixth-floor spirit library will host a voyage of discovery on Thursday 13 February, as the gin geniuses from Hendrick's serve up cocktails designed to delight. A selection of the celebrated Scottish distillery's finest gins will form the basis of a host of creative concoctions, with guests treated to four cocktails, insight from the experts and a selection of nibbles. Our intimate evening event commences at 7pm on 13 February. Limited spaces are available - book your spot below.

14/01

Thankfully no Notts players were drafted today.

12/01

Joe Clarke, Alex Hales and Tumblina Moores are included in the PSL draft

Games in this franchise league are to be played during April and May.

All of this whilst Olly Stone is blocked from that competition.

10/01

Pravda Situations Vacant

08/01

Farhan selected for U19s

06/01

Player Census

As Dan Christian substitutes for our New Dan for the Thunderers (as I type), ponder this: at the last Members' Forum, Mr Newell and Mr Moores were both beating the drum and trumpeting the successes of the Nottinghamshire Youth Player Pathway, like a two man band and in deed the breakthrough of Freddie and Farhan in the latter parts of the 2024 season was an occurence to celibrate for all Nottinghamshire supporters. 

Homegrown players are always a delight for home supporters to watch and to see how they develop over time. It's a pity that Fateh had to find opportunities elsewhere.

If you read this players census you will discover that Nottinghamshire is actually falling behind its competitors and the retaining our young talent does appear to be as much a problem as getting talent through the system in the first place. 

Mr Newell is responsible for the Player Pathway and is also is the negotiator at the sharp end of player contract discussions. Mr Moores as well as the captain(s) is responsible for giving (or not) opportunities to the young hopefuls. Now, if we were a successful county, winning trophies or finishing runners-up in at least one competition each year, there might be an argument in favour of the way Nottinghamshire is currently being operated, but we are not being successful in anyway other than providing players ready for the England system. Is it any surprise that Farhan made his England Lions debut before he made his Nottinghamshire senior debut? If you were to point a stick at those responsible for Nottinghamshire failures over the past 5 years, where would it be directed?

Moores' supporters will point out that Outlaws won the Covid Blast in 2020... but only with the help of Dan Christian.

As for Coach Dan Christian, he is currently doing exceptionally well for an old guy. It just shows the lack of talent coming through the Franchise model if Sydney Thunder have to fall back on someone that was largely overlooked when he was in his prime, now that he is almost spent. Let's not adopt the franchise model in England eh, as it's difficult enough already for youngsters at some locations already!

Broken shoulder, nose for fielder in MBBL collision.
PTG Editor.

Sunday, 5 January 2024.

PTG 4726-22686.

Cameron Bancroft broke his nose and shoulder when he collided with Sydney Thunder team-mate Daniel Sams during their Men's Big Bash League match against Perth Scorchers on Friday (PTG 4725-22677, 4 January 2025).  The pair were also both concussed after clashing heads when they ran into each other trying to take a catch, Sams eventually being carried off on a mobile stretcher. while Bancroft was able to walk off the ground despite blood pouring from his nose.  The pair were replaced by Ollie Davies and Hugh Weibgen as playing substitutes.

04/01

Pravda straight-in with news today that Peter Moores' side have won a game, the second win of 2025. Remember 2024 only brought 4 T20 wins in total (Stars + Outlaws) for the veteran head coach.

Daniel Sams, along with fellow collisionee Cameron Bancroft, will be released from hospital today. Sams has concusion and will make a return according to protocols.

03/01

New overseas Blast signing Daniel Sams has been injured following a collision fielding for Syndney Thunder today. Thunder speaks

Substitutes brought in after serious fielding collision.

PTG Editor.

Saturday, 4 January 2024.

PTG 4725-22677.

Play in the Men’s Big Bash League match between the Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder in Perth on Friday was halted for 20 minutes after two fielders were involved in a serious collision as they both attempted an outfield catch on the run.  The Thunders' Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams were later confirmed to have suffered concussion and were sent to hospital for further assessment with possible fractures involved. 

The incident occurred the 16th over of the Scorchers innings when Perth batter Cooper Connolly hit a ball high on the leg side. Sams sprinted from the infield with eyes on the ball while Bancroft ran in at full speed from the outfield, the pair knocking heads as they crashed into each other, knocking their heads.  Thunder players quickly ran to the pair, who lay motionless on the ground, and frantically gestured for medical support, which came immediately.

Sams appeared to be knocked out and was stretchered off in a mini-ambulance, while Bancroft managed to walk off the ground with a physio's support with blood gushing from his nose.  Thunder captain David Warner and the team's coaches were involved in discussions with match referee Steve Davis and umpires Mike Graham-Smith and David Taylor, after which Ollie Davies and Hugh Weibgen came into the Thunder side as playing substitutes.

I'm also informed that Auckland Aces had a fielder collision today, this one involved Ben Lister the former Outlaw.

Now in the news

01/01

Why not, let's start the new year off with a note of positivity. Peter Moores recorded a win for one of his T20 sides today - Melbourne Stars winning at their sixth attempt this season.