COVERED WINTER 2020

29 JOIN OUR MAILING LIST FOR ALL THE LATEST: TRENTBRIDGE.CO.UK/MAILINGLIST KEVIN SHINE “TRENT BRIDGE IS A VERY GOOD PITCH, AND TO BE STRONG IN CHAMPIONSHIP CRICKET YOU HAVE TO TAKE 20 WICKETS. THE EXCITING CHALLENGE FROMMY POINT OF VIEW IS TO DEVELOP AN ATTACK THAT CAN DO THAT CONSISTENTLY.” Kevin Shine you wouldn’t have a bowler like him in the side to do that. “But he’s part of a bowling unit. A bow- ling group always needs variety and he has started to show how his point of difference can fit into a Notts attack. “He’s still developing, he’s still a work in progress, but he’s very exciting.” When the five-match First-Class season of 2020 returns to the established 14, Shine believes the Green and Golds will need each of the aforementioned seamers, and more. “Trent Bridge is generally a very good pitch, and to be strong in championship cricket you have to take 20 wickets,” he says. “The exciting challenge from my point of view is to develop an attack that can do that consistently over a number of years. “We’re trying to grow a bowling unit that can take a full season of four-day, 50- over andT20 cricket, and we also want points of difference in our side. “When you look at the attacks that have been successful and won championships, they’ve had enough strength-in-depth to last a full season, and they’ve also had variety for the different pitches you come across. “We want guys who can bowl good line and length, we want guys who have pace, we want some taller bowlers, and that needs to be complemented by our spinners as well. “Matt Carter, our off-break bowler, got his First-Class wickets at 24 this year. He is improving at a frightening rate of knots, not just in white-ball cricket but with the red ball too. “Some of the things I’ve seen Liam Patterson-White do as a left-arm spinner as well... he’s still learning his craft, but he bowls a really exciting ball. “It was really unlucky for Fletch (Luke Fletcher) to get injured this year, but if we get him fit, there’s a nailed on, very solid, reliable bowler.We might have Broady (Stuart Broad) for a few games at the beginning of next season as well. “We’re developing a really interesting bowling group where we’ll have options, and we’ll need all of them.You can never have enough.” In the meantime, Shine can settle into his winter’s work with the loving memory of victory fresh in his mind. When it came to the celebrations, he was happy to remain once removed. It’s a watching brief, these days, that gives this experienced and decorated coach the most pleasure. “Once they’re on the field, I’m a coach who quietly observes,” he reveals. “Seeing them, first of all perform, but then seeing their faces as they came off at the end, it was so lovely to see. “I took a couple of steps back and watched them celebrate because it’s a wonderful thing to behold. “My time in and amongst that group as a player is gone, so I step back and let them do their thing.The atmosphere they created was amazing and they deserve it. “They made us all so, so proud.”