He’s never been one for missing games, so it’s inevitably been a slightly strange last month or so for Chris Read after his self-imposed absence from Nottinghamshire’s wicket-keeping duties.
The man who can list 98 consecutive County Championship appearances among so many career highlights over the last two decades decided that, in his final season, he would not be participating in the NatWest T20 Blast.
It means that since July 1 – when the Notts Outlaws memorably beat Surrey in the final of the Royal London One-Day Cup at Lord’s – the Paignton-born player has been on the coaching staff, rather than on the frontline, for the shortest format of the game.
As Read quite rightly points out, watching, rather than playing, is very soon to become the norm. In less than two months’ time, he will hang up his gloves for good, meaning he felt it only right to assist the Club he loves by stepping aside to help bed in a potential successor in Tom Moores.
Read will naturally relish returning to the side for tomorrow’s important Specsavers County Championship match with neighbours Derbyshire, but he is all too aware that getting his ‘fix’ of playing will soon no longer be an option.
“Would I like to carry on coaching next year? Very much so.”
Thankfully, he has found his coaching role at Trent Bridge just as enjoyable – and is hoping it is a sign of things to come in the months ahead, alongside his appointment as Director of Cricket at Uppingham School.
It’s been brilliant,” said Read, who turns 39 on Thursday. “I’ve loved my role on the coaching side and also having a bit of a break. It’s certainly a necessary progression in terms of how the Club moves forward and I think Tom has done a fantastic job so far.
“I know I’m coming to the end, and it feels right for the younger man and the guy at the start of his career to be out there doing the business for Notts Outlaws in T20. I’ve enjoyed watching it all unfold.
“The first half of the season has been hectic with the 50 overs competition and nine four-day games to get through, so it’s been good for the body and the mind to sit some games out.”
“Would I like to carry on coaching next year? Very much so. Obviously I’ll be taking up my post at Uppingham, but that leaves a good chunk of my time where I could be helping out at Nottinghamshire with the two wicket-keeping Toms, Keast and Moores.
“There’s also the batting side of things, strategy and also other young academy players as well. So I’d like to think that I’ll keep involved at Trent Bridge and pass on that experience I’ve gained over the past 20-plus years.”
Read warmed up for Notts’ short trip down the A52 to the 3aaa County Ground by playing for his home county of Devon in the Unicorns Championship (Western Division) against Shropshire.
Batting at number four, he made 11 and 23 not out and also took three catches behind the wicket in a rain-affected match at Creedy Park, Sandford.
“I enjoyed my three days down there going back to my roots.”
Read said: “It was great to go down there and play for the county where it all started for me, but it’s been a useful experience getting back into the red ball game too.
“I enjoyed my three days down there going back to my roots. We didn’t get a result, primarily due to a bit of bad weather hanging around, but I’m thankful for them letting me re-join my old team, albeit 20 years later!”
Now, however, it’s back to the serious stuff of the first-class game, where Notts are out to preserve their unbeaten record in the County Championship this season, having so far won five times and drawn the other four to top the Division Two table.
They will also be out to maintain their excellent record when visiting their neighbouring county, which has seen them win on each of their last four championship visits - at Derby in 2002, 2004 and 2013 and at Queens Park, Chesterfield in 2007.
The match comes straight after today’s NatWest T20 Blast home game with Durham Jets, but Read is backing his team-mates to make the swift switch from white to red ball cricket.
“It’s the same for everyone, and this is where the strength of the squad is tested a little bit because you’ve got many of the guys who are playing T20 who will also in the squad for tomorrow,” he said.
“But then there’s a number of us who aren’t as well. So, in the last week, myself, Jake Libby, Matt Carter, Brett Hutton and Mark Footitt have been playing red ball cricket to get our hands back into that format. It’s about who adjusts the quickest.”
Derbyshire were mightily unlucky not to defeat Notts in the reverse fixture at Trent Bridge in June as they were denied a first County Championship win in almost two years by just 26 runs.
Chasing 215 from 49 overs, they had reached 190-5 when rain intervened, just as it did later in the month when Notts were 75 runs short of victory with 10 wickets in hand In the pink ball, day-night game against Kent.
“We’re in a good place and we want to continue the good form.”
Read said: “Derbyshire came closest to beating us and probably should have done but for the weather, so we won’t be taking them lightly by any means and it’s going to be a tough four days.
“Obviously, we’re in a good place in that competition and we want to continue the good form playing in what will be a bit of a one-off game as we then go back into T20.”
Overseas leg spinner Ish Sodhi has been named in the 14-man Nottinghamshire squad, along with left-arm seamer Mark Footitt, who has recently returned to the Club following spells at Derbyshire and Surrey.
Nottinghamshire squad to play Derbyshire (from): Brendan Taylor, Jake Libby, Steven Mullaney, Chris Read, Riki Wessels, Alex Hales, Harry Gurney, Luke Wood, Mark Footitt, Matt Carter, Samit Patel, Brett Hutton, Jake Ball, Ish Sodhi.
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