Haynes could prove to be key winter signing
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
■■Captain: Haseeb Hameed
■■Head Coach: Peter Moores
■■2023 finish: Sixth (Division One)
■■2023 highest run-scorer: Joe Clarke (1,053)
■■2023 highest wicket-taker: Brett Hutton (62)
■■Key winter moves:
After Steven Mullaney’s switch to second XI captain and player-coach, Haseeb Hameed skippers the red-ball side with Joe Clarke leading in T20.
Samit Patel and Jake Ball depart, while fast bowler Dillon Pennington, England quick Josh Tongue (currently injured) and young batter Jack Haynes arrive from Worcestershire. New Zealand batter Will Young returns from mid-april until the end of the Blast.
■■The big question:
With Stuart Broad retired, club legend Patel moving on,
Mullaney effectively calling time on his senior career and Alex Hales prioritising the Lanka Premier League over the Blast, it feels like the end of an era at Trent Bridge.
The big question is how smoothly they can transition to a new one while two new captains simultaneously try to find their feet.
■■What we’re looking forward to seeing:
Whether Haynes, only 23, can make the impact many believe he can at a higher level after five
Championship hundreds in the last two seasons for Worcestershire. The classy right-hander should bed in well with two New Road colleagues making the switch with him. He has the potential to be Nottinghamshire’s most important winter signing.
■■Player most likely to Baz-ball:
Ben Duckett was Bazballing even before it was a thing but in his likely absence with England, Clarke or wicketkeeper-batter Tom Moores are the likeliest to take an up-tempo approach.
■■Final thought:
How well Nottinghamshire have recruited will be measured by whether they can finish higher than last season’s sixth.
How much they see of the talented speedster Tongue is open to question, given that England will have first call on him once his latest injury has healed, but Pennington and Haynes look sound acquisitions and Young adds some proven quality.
Members will welcome the promotion of exciting homegrown prospect Freddie Mccann to the senior squad, too.