“We don’t want it to look like a fluke year” – Nottinghamshire squad ready to embrace title defence

Nottinghamshire begin their County Championship campaign at Somerset on Friday in rather unfamiliar territory, stepping onto the field as the defending champions with the pressure and expectation that comes with a first Division One trophy since 2010.

The narrative has shifted at Trent Bridge. A remarkable turnaround from basement battlers in 2024 to rampant title winners 12 months later was largely unexpected, but there was an air of confidence emanating ahead of the new season that Notts are in a strong position to sustain their red-ball transition.

“I don’t think many of us would’ve had it on our radar at the start of the season,” declared batter Ben Slater.

But the East Midlands outfit went on to end Surrey’s dominant reign with seven victories over the course of the Championship season – two more than they combined over the previous two campaigns in Division One after promotion back to the top flight in 2022.

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Welcoming the challenge

For rejuvenated opener Haseeb Hameed, who amassed 1,258 runs to revive calls around a potential England call-up after his last Test in 2022, it has been a whirlwind turnaround since taking over leadership duties: “Two years as captain to go through that journey, first year working hard to stay in the division and to go on and win it the following year was amazing and really special for us”.

“We have to move on from last season, though; it is a fresh start,” the skipper added.

There was acceptance of a mentality shift, but one that needs to be embraced.

“It is a new pressure defending rather than challenging”, admitted youngster Freddie McCann. “But with the squad we’ve got, I don’t see why we can’t be thereabouts again.”

It was a sentiment shared throughout the group, one of pride but also a determination to replicate their triumph.

“That’s the goal, winning it is great, but we don’t want it to look like a fluke year,” said bowler Brett Hutton.

And there lies the task facing this Notts side.

Local lad and key all-rounder Lyndon James is hoping to use 2025 as a foundation for long-term success.

“Our standards from last year is all we can take forward,” said the 27-year-old.

Referencing Surrey’s level of consistency, he added: “If we want to be defined as one of the more successful red-ball sides in recent years, then we’ve got to be able to back it up”.

Settled core

Stability was a keyword looking ahead to 2026.

There are a few fresh arrivals to help improve their recent T20 fortunes, including the experienced operator Benny Howell and Scotland’s big-hitting George Munsey.

However, the red-ball squad remains largely unchanged with the popular return of South Africa wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne for a third season and Australia seamer Fergus O’Neill for the first half of the campaign, who claimed 21 wickets across an impressive short stint in April last year.

“The way Ferg [Fergus O’Neill] came in for those four games and instantly made a massive impact and instilled a big confidence in us, which we then took forward for the rest of the season”, explained James.

“Keeping a winning side together, hopefully that can translate into similar performances again this year.”

The group possesses “a nice mix of experience and youth”, according to Slater, who also touched upon the boost from having England internationals Ben Duckett and Josh Tongue available for selection during the early stages of the season.

Tongue played a starring role in the titanic tussle over Surrey at the Kia Oval in the penultimate round of the season – his first year playing for the county after injury prevented his involvement in 2024, which was a campaign blighted by injuries to their bowling department. 

Fitness-dependent, Notts have assembled a strong pace unit over recent years, which includes the likes of Olly Stone and Dillon Pennington, with experienced new-ball seamer Hutton relishing the depth of options at their disposal: “Having that competition for places is a really good place to be, especially with a brutal-looking schedule towards the end of the season” (the final six games will be played in one block between August-September).

Strong team ethos

The bedrock of Notts’ title charge was a collective effort under Peter Moores with crucial contributions throughout the squad – eight different batters reached a century milestone, and seven bowlers chipped in with at least one five-wicket haul.

“Everyone stuck their hand up at one stage. It’s a nice feeling when it’s not your day, you feel like someone in the side is going to perform for you”, said James.

Those thoughts were echoed by Slater – who reached the 1,000-run mark during the final round – adding: “That’s where we did well, the lads down the order stood up when we needed them to and helped us get to 300 in the first innings on pretty much every occasion.”

It was refreshing to hear that the passion among the group remains strong for the red-ball format.

“It’s the most demanding and rewarding to win, a lot of mental and physical toil involved,” James said.

“For me it’s the ultimate goal and I feel it’s similar for a lot of lads in the dressing room.”

Individual development

But some of the players may be harbouring ambitions for higher honours in the near future.

Rather surprisingly, there was no Nottinghamshire representation in the England Lions squad that toured Australia over the winter – Tom Moores and Liam Patterson-White both earned a white-ball call-up in the UAE tour at the start of the year.

Lyndon James was one of the standout all-rounders on the domestic circuit, with a double-century the highlight of his 789 runs and 26 wickets, but his outlook is fully-focused on producing another strong domestic campaign in both departments.

“I had a good year last year, it’s just about trying to back that up again,” he said. “I love my role as the all-rounder in the side.”

James revealed England’s proposed change in attitude towards the county game is “exciting for a lot of cricketers”.

He stated: “There’s always the aspiration there (to play at international level), but I try to not think too much about it.

“If I put in performances for Notts consistently with bat and ball, hopefully one day that will take care of itself.”

Notts have developed a reputation in the past as a county that poaches talent from the smaller sides, but James is a prime example of the homegrown quality they have also developed.

Proud moment

Another name to keep a close eye on is left-handed batter Freddie McCann, who cemented a spot in the top order last year.

“My first full season with the squad, to win it, I can’t really ask for much better, and to be able to contribute with nearly 800 runs was a proud moment,” said the 20-year-old.

On his own England aspirations: “I had my first taste of it a couple of winters ago (with the Lions squad), didn’t get picked last year, but I’ll just keep putting performances in throughout the season, and hopefully it comes.

“Test cricket is the pinnacle and number one thing I want to get selected for.”

There is a strong sense of belief coursing through the squad, exemplified by James: “A club as prestigious as Notts, it’s expected of us to be successful across all formats, it’s more of a settled group now.”

But the overwhelming feeling was that the County Championship remains the benchmark and primary goal, as Nottinghamshire prepare to navigate the challenge of making the county a formidable red-ball force for years to come and ensure the wait for the next title is much less this time around.

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