Video: Chris Read on the young players he expects to perform well this season
Notts cricket captain and wicket-keeper Chris Read ‘knows his time has come’ to retire as he prepares for his 20th and final year at the club.
In part one of four of our pre-season build up to the start of the cricket season, the skipper speaks out on his retirement, new coaching staff and consistency.
The county cricket club start their competitive campaign on Friday (March 7) away at Grace Road against Leicestershire in the County Championship Division 2.
After winning their opening Division 1 game last year against Surrey at Trent Bridge, Notts did not win any of the following 15 fixtures which saw the club relegated.
In his 10th and final year as captain before he retires, 38-year-old Chris Read said he knew it was the right time.
He said: “I think everyone knows when their time has come to an end – I’ve had a wonderful career here at Nottinghamshire and had that feeling that it was time to move on.
“It’s a big year for us, getting relegated last year was a big disappointment for us so we’re targeting promotion no doubt in the four day competition.
“In white ball cricket, we’ve had some success in recent years and have played some really good 50 over and 20 over cricket so it would be great to get a trophy but we know it will be a really tough and challenging season ahead.”
Notts got their pre-season preparations underway with a convincing 344 run win against a Cambridge university team.
Read said: “Pre-season and the winter programme has been fantastic – we’ve had a change in the coaching staff with Peter Moores taking over as head coach and Paul Frank coming in as his assistant.
“We’ve also got Ant Botha who’s looking after the second team and the way they’ve gelled together and got the team moving in a new fresh direction is really exciting for the future.”
One area that Read says the coaches have focused on is developing the culture around the club.
He said: “Getting the culture and the environment we play in right is crucial as well as the intensity of practice going up.
“I think things have pitched up a notch in terms of intensity and hopefully that will stand us in good stead.
“For me consistency in everything I do is key and I need to perform to my best behind the stumps.
“It’s great to contribute and score and I judge myself up against all the other batsmen in the side and we didn’t score enough runs as a batting unit last year nor take enough wickets.”
Part 2 with Notts’ new head coach Peter Moores comes out on Monday April 3. For our Sports Week cricket special, tune in to Notts TV at 7.30pm on Wednesday April 5 on Freeview 7, Virgin 159 or Sky 117.
