-
Melinda FarrellCricinfo
Nottinghamshire have made the leap back up to Division One in the County Championship but the road to consolidating their place, let alone contesting the title, is not lacking in hurdles.
Talented all-rounder Paul Coughlin is out with a shoulder injury for at least four months, making it unlikely he will play white-ball cricket for his new club this season. After his highly anticipated signing from Durham in September, Coughlin dislocated his shoulder in the outfield while playing for England Lions in the West Indies and required surgery. The loss of his seam bowling is a blow but it is, perhaps, in the batting stakes where Nottinghamshire may feel the squeeze.
The Trent Bridge departure lounge was busy in 2018; those moving on included captain Chris Read, Brett Hutton, Michael Lumb and Brendon Taylor. More recently, Alex Hales signed a white-ball only contract.
“He wants to get better at white-ball cricket, he thinks that’s his real strength. He wants to become one of the best players in the world”
Nottinghamshire coach Peter Moores on Alex Hales
Nottinghamshire were unsuccessful in securing several batsmen, including Sam Northeast, in the off-season and they remain in the market should someone suitable becomes available. Head coach Peter Moores will look to the experience of new captain Chris Nash and emerging players to push for success in 2018, but he knows any injuries will leave the cupboard bare.
“Our staff is actually smaller than we’d like, if I’m honest,” Moores said. “And so, it probably lacks a little bit of depth but it’s a great chance for some of the youngsters and that’s just the way it’s gone.
“In some ways, we are waiting for the right sort of player to come along. We’ve been in the market for two or three players in the winter, didn’t get them. But that’s what happens. We’re fine, we’re happy where we are, but if that right player comes along we’d be interested in signing somebody.”
Moores is philosophical and supportive of Hales’ decision to eschew first-class cricket, coming in the same week Adil Rashid signed an exclusive white-ball deal with Yorkshire.
“I understand it. I really do,” Moores said. “Alex had thought long and hard about it. It came across to some people that he made a snap decision.
“But he’d made that decision, told us about it, thought long and hard about it before Adil Rashid announced it. He’s pretty clear in his goals. He wants to get better at white-ball cricket, he thinks that’s his real strength. He wants to become one of the best players in the world. He’s got areas he needs to work at and he’s got to use the little gaps in between to work on that.”
Samit Patel is one Notts player keen to take on more responsibility. After playing a key role in the side’s promotion, the Royal London One-Day title and the Natwest T20 Blast trophy, the allrounder has returned to England with a few new tricks after some “eye-opening” training sessions with Saeed Ajmal and PSL franchise Islamabad United.
Patel has never worked with a specialist spin-bowling coach and, while he was naturally coy about the specifics of Ajmal’s advice, he revealed he has made some tweaks and is focussing more on what is happening at the other end of the pitch.
“The way he coaches and comes across as a person is really good and just tactically he is really smart,” Patel. Said. “There’s not too much [difference] as a finger spinner that you’re going to get but subtle variations in actions and things. Not big things but things that I wasn’t aware about on what makes things happen at the other end instead of short term at the crease.
“It’s what happens down at the other end that makes [a wicket] happen if that kind of makes sense. Where it lands and how it comes off the pitch. So there’s a little bit of a difference in what happens this year compared to previous years.”
The 33-year-old has made no secret of his desire to play for England but he has added a new goal to his list: he wants to play until he reaches 40.
“It’s just a figure in my head that I thought it’d be a good age to play until and if the body allows to be honest,” Patel said. “But at the minute I think it’s pretty realistic.”
Source: ESPN Crickinfo