County Championship – 14th (W3, D11, L10)
Benson & Hedges Cup – Group Stage
NatWest Trophy – Second Round
John Player Special League – 17th
Captain – Clive Rice/John Birch
Losing the services of three world-class players had the inevitable impact on Nottinghamshire’s season, with just three wins in the County Championship and struggles in the limited overs competitions.
Richard Hadlee joined the New Zealand touring party; Derek Randall was selected as twelfth man for England during the World Cup; and the final blow came when Clive Rice, who was in very good form, broke his hand and missed 19 games, including a vital Benson & Hedges tie.
The first of the Championship wins came in the second game (the first was drawn when rain washed out all but the first day’s play). Notts went to Hove and beat Sussex by an innings and 32 runs; Richard Hadlee with a century (103) and seven wickets in the match was the determining factor.
Against Lancashire at Trent Bridge, Notts emerged from a topsy-turvy game with a win by 157 runs – which seemed highly unlikely when they were all out for 86 in the first innings. Lancs replied with 158 but the home side recovered to post 294. Eddie Hemmings, who had taken four first innings wickets, skittled the visitors with 7-23 to ensure the victory.
It was a similarly low scoring match at New Road, Worcester, where Notts won by 215 runs. Kevin Cooper that returned the seven wicket haul on this occasion, 7-33, with Mike Hendrick taking seven in the match to see Notts home.
In spite of lack of success at First-Class level there were some very encouraging signs. Tim Robinson scored 1545 runs, John Birch, who captained the side during Rice’s absence, completed 1000 runs for the second year running and on a number of occasions Basharat Hassan’s contribution proved invaluable.
Mike Hendrick took 66 wickets and finished fourth in the national averages. He was well supported by Kevin Cooper and Kevin Saxelby, who was the most successful Sunday League bowler.
The Club announced, with hopes that were not just fulfilled but exceeded: ‘The batting for next season has been strengthened by the signing of Chris Broad, from Gloucestershire.
‘He is a left-handed opening bat and we hope that he and Tim Robinson will form a successful partnership for some time to come.’
Trent Bridge was one of the host grounds for the Prudential World Cup but got off to a dismal start when the warm-up game between the county side and Zimbabwe was abandoned without any play.
Zimbabwe were back for their Group B game against Australia and pulled off a surprise win by 13 runs. Duncan Fletcher, who was to become a significant figure in English cricket, was Man-of-the-Match with a top score of 69 and four wickets.
Australia beat eventual champions India by 162 runs with a century from Trevor Chappell and six wickets from medium pacer Ken Macleay.
Pakistan squeezed past New Zealand in the only other game at Trent Bridge. Zaheer Abbas made 103 as Pakistan posted 261-3 in their sixty overs; New Zealand were 250 all out with five balls left in the match.
In the Trent Bridge Test, England beat New Zealand by 165 runs. Ian Botham and Allan Lamb each scored centuries; spinner Nick Cook took nine wickets in the match.
November 2026
Scorecards and stats can be seen here