Notts go green in bid for T20 success

Mick Newell is usually meticulous in his preparations for any Nottinghamshire match, but the Outlaws’ director of cricket admits it might be time to resort to lucky omens as his side aim to end their long wait for a first domestic T20 title.
By Dave Bracegirdle
Published 13th May 2015, 11:12 BST
Mick Newell.Mick Newell.
Mick Newell.

“We’re going to be wearing green in the NatWest T20 Blast competition this year,” he explained. “We’ve tried everything else, and after four consecutive quarter final defeats in gold shirts I can’t think of what else to change. We won the one day final in 2013 in green, so we’ll see if it brings us luck in this competition.”

Newell, understandably, is almost prepared to go to any lengths to shake off a quarter-final hoodoo that has seen Notts romp through the groups only to lose in the knockout stages in each of the last four years.

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He does believe, however, that his side aren’t far away from fulfilling their potential.

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“I think we’re a very good T20 side,” he said. “We prove it year after year in the groups but need to find a way to get back to Finals Day and prove to everyone else that we’re as good as we think we are.

“In last year’s quarter final (against Hampshire) I thought we couldn’t have batted any better but, having said that, we couldn’t have bowled or fielded any worse and that was just something that happened on the day.”

Notts will be on home territory and will be backed by a 10,000 plus crowd as they get this season’s NatWest T20 Blast campaign under way against the defending champions, Birmingham Bears, on Friday evening in front of a crowd of over 10,000 plus the television cameras.

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“I think it’s great that we’re playing them,” admitted Newell. “And I think it’s great that two very good teams are going to kick off what should be a great summer of T20 cricket.”

There will be one definite absentee for the Outlaws, with Michael Lumb still recuperating from the arm surgery which has prevented him from appearing so far this season.

“Michael won’t be fit for the start of the competition,” confirmed Newell.

“We’re looking to have him fit for the period when Hales and Taylor might disappear to play for England in the ODI series and leave us short for two or three matches, but if we can get Michael fit for then it will provide cover for those absences. Hopefully, we should be at full strength from mid-June onwards.”

Notts also take on Yorkshire in the same competition at Trent Bridge on Friday, 22nd May. To win tickets for that game click HERE

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