Bowling all-rounder Liam Patterson-White believes that his team mates must show patience in their work towards more successful Vitality Blast campaigns, as their final T20 fixture of the summer arrives on Friday night at Headingley (7pm).
Notts Outlaws are welcomed by Yorkshire Vikings for their final North Group game, with Notts unable to reach the knockout stages for only the second time in nine years.
They name one new face - all-rounder Rob Lord, who signed a deal with the Outlaws for the remainder of 2024 - in the squad travelling to Leeds, as they hope for a positive end to what has been a chastening campaign.
“There’s a lot to work on, but there is a lot more clarity in the group about how we’re going to get better and put performances on the field,” said orthodox spinner Patterson-White ahead of Friday’s game.
“Everyone’s working really hard to make things right; it’s not nice for us, but it’s equally not nice for the fans who come here and spend their money to watch us.
“Patience is a virtue here, we need to be patient and make sure that we stick to what we know and keep thinking positively about how we’re going to win games for future seasons to come.”
The all-rounder made his Blast debut at Trent Bridge back in early June - scoring an unbeaten 44 before taking 1/22 with the ball - and has since been ever-present in the Outlaws squad, a chance which he has relished.
“For me that has been the positive outcome, I’ve waited quite a while to get an opportunity,” he said.
“The biggest thing for me was taking that opportunity, it’s nice for me to contribute to games and to try and perform and do well for the team. That being said, the outcome is most important and unfortunately it has been a torrid campaign for us.
“No one wants to lose games of cricket, and there’s a lot of hurt going on in the changing room right now. We are trying to build something and while it’s never going to happen overnight, what we’ll try to do this final game is put some of those wrongs right.”
And while preparations haven’t translated into results as often as the Outlaws would have hoped, Patterson-White credited the persistence in his team mates to strive for improvement, citing the inspiration which the newer members of the squad have taken from Notts glories gone by.
“There’s a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes, with all the players and coaches, to try and improve as a group and mesh together,” he said, “I’d reiterate what Lyndon said after Lancashire and say that I wouldn’t put too much stress on what’s happened this year, as we’re trying to build a team.
“We’ve come through the system watching this T20 team win games and win trophies. What we’re trying to do is aspire to be up there with that team. It’s not going to happen overnight, but the hard work and focus is on building a squad that will be able to do that.”
A fresh opportunity also arises for the Outlaws no more than five days after their closing Blast fixture, as their Metro Bank One Day Cup journey commences in Leicester on Wednesday 24 July.
“Every time you change formats, you get a little reset. It’ll give everyone a little bit of breathing space.
“Whilst you get a few lads who split off for The Hundred, the One Day Cup always brings everyone at the club together a little bit more,” he added, “We gel closer as a group, it’ll be a nice reset and a nice opportunity to show people what we can do on the field.
“But until Friday’s game is done, our focus remains entirely on finishing our Blast on a positive note.”