Notts cricketer Tom Moores caps breakthrough season with ECB call

The 20-year-old was one of only four young batsmen selected alongside Glamorgan’s Aneurin Donald, Dan Lawrence, of Essex and Somerset prospect Tom Abell.

Moores, from Wymeswold, flew out to Perth on Tuesday and will spend the winter playing grade cricket for Subiaco while working with renowned Western Australia batting coach Neil Holder and former England all-rounder Dermot Reeve.

The overseas placements are designed to develop the young cricketers’ independence as well as their on-field skills.

“Graham Thorpe rang and asked me if I wanted the place,” Moores told the Melton Times.

“It’s great to be going. I know the coaches out there so it should be a great experience.”

The wicketkeeper-batsman has had to make do with just a few weeks’ rest on the heels of a busy season, crammed with cricket.

After racking up some big early-season runs with Nottinghamshire’s Second XI, Moores was rushed off to Lancashire for a loan spell.

His senior debut arrived soon after in a frenetic T20 Blast programme which included a man-of-the-match display against the Birmingham Bears and the cauldron of a Roses clash against Yorkshire.

Moores then made his first-class bow in the County Championship against Durham at Southport during a second loan spell in the north west.

He also made six One Day Cup appearances for the Red Rose county before returning to Trent Bridge.

“The Lancashire move came out of nowhere really,” he said. “I scored a couple of hundreds for the second team here and then Alex (Davies) got injured.

“I went over there and had a good run.”

Making 349 runs in two Nottinghamshire Second XI matches on his return earned a first team debut at the Scarborough Festival against defending champions Yorkshire where he was hoicked up the batting order.

“It was different for me because I usually bat in the middle order, so to go in at three was a good challenge,” he said.

“It took me by surprise and added to the nerves a bit. (Ryan) Sidebottom was bowling at me first up, but as soon as I got in I played my natural game and tried to be positive.”

A composed innings of 41 impressed and Moores retained his place for the rest of the season.

He made four appearances, but had to temper the excitement of playing at the top table of domestic cricket as his team slid to relegation.

“It was a shame the way the season went,” Moores added. “But we will come back stronger from it and hopefully we’ll bounce straight back to Division One.

“For me it was fairly odd. Coming into the side as a young player I was buzzing to be playing, but from a team perspective it was really disappointing.

“Getting 40 at the start set me up nicely. I didn’t really kick on as well as I’d like, but I will use it as a platform.”

Moores, son of Notts head coach Peter, also signed off his duties with England Under 19s in two one-day matches against Sri Lanka.

And a remarkable campaign was capped with a first professional contract, signing for Notts on a two-year deal.

But despite a frantic summer of targets ticked off, Moores is eager to remain level-headed and is hungry for new targets.

He added: “I knew I had done well and done enough in my own mind (for a contract) but you never expect it.

“When I set out at the start of the season that was my aim and thankfully it all fell into place.

“It’s one of the things to tick off as a young player and a sign you are going in the right direction

“Next year is another challenge to push for a consistent first team spot, but I feel ready to step up to that level.”