Arthur Crabtree wrote:How can Notts be so bad? Their team isn't so awful on paper. Something going badly wrong there.
I think it makes a difference for a team in county cricket, when you have a lot of players who have drifted out of international contention, and are at stages in their career where there is no real incentive to shine. There seems an age gap players hit where below it, playing well and having a good record over the years can put you back on the map, and an age over it where some players are then playing to continue their career and have to prove themselves. But for Notts, a lot of those fade inbetween.
Looking at the talent.... Samit is never going to play for England again. Hales has stopped trying to get in the 4 day team and doesnt turn up. Jake Ball did nothing in the team and is unlikely now drifting to the late 20s to get another chance. Mullaney has reached his career peak last year taking the armband, and guys like Stuart Broad wouldnt be around had it not been for the WC taking over the summer to now. Ben Duckett threw a pint over his majesty King Anderson, and as long as Jimmy is still breathing it doesnt matter is Duckett becomes like Bradman, there is NO way they are ever sharing a dressing room again. Coughlin seems prone to injury.
Around these players on the decline, you put a load of unproven talent or players like Joe Clarke who are under pressure to take themselves to the next level. It isnt a great mix. They do have younger talent there, I think a lot of the younger guys have been in the Lions team in the last couple of squads (Carter, Zac Chappell, Clarke, Duckett, Moores... I think)....
Signing players like Ben Slater also seemed really meh. Libby isnt doing the business, and quite how Tom Moores is getting into development squads and batting at 3 when hes producing tailender like numbers (and has played a significant amount, so its a large sample size)....
