Britannic Assurance County Championship 1992
As in 1991, Nottinghamshire won seven matches and finished fourth in the final table. By bowling the opposition out twice Notts throughly deserved victories over Warwickshire and Northants in the first two fixtures.
The third victory came five weeks later, Northants being beaten a second time after a run chase. A rain affected game, with forfeited innings, produced the fourth successes at the expense of Hampshire and at the end of July wins were recorded against Surrey at The Oval and Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
Up to this point two matches had ended in defeat, at Maidstone against Kent, and against Worcestershire at Trent Bridge.
Nottinghamshire still had a chance of taking the title. August however proved a dreadful month, starting with three defeats and ending with three draws, plus a fourth defeat.
The first reverse was at Worksop when Notts required 146 to win in the final innings and collapsed to Wash. Glamorgan won, but only after Notts had put a very brave fight. Asked to score 330 in the final innings they made 332.
Essex, the Champions, then completely outplayed Notts at Colchester, where a certain Peter Such took six for 39 in the second innings. Finally in the match beginning on August 31, Derbyshire scraped home by two wickets. The last two fixtures produced a win against Surrey, when Robinson hit an unbeaten 129 and Lewis took ten wickets, and a defeat at Taunton, where Somerset won with an innings to spare, having hit 616 for seven.
At the start of the summer, the seam attack of the newly signed Lewis and Cairns allied to Cooper Pick and Evans, looked formidable, but Cooper's back gave way and he played no Championship cricket, whilst Lewis, due to England calls, missed half the matches.
In July Pick was injured and did not reappear. Pennett, the Yorkshire colt, was signed on the staff and quickly drafted into the side. His bowling proved a valuable acquisition. The left arm spinner, Afford, picked up over 50 wickets and returned similar figures to 1991, but Hemmings missed many games and was released at the end of the summer. Fiied-Buss, who replaced the veteran, lacked his bite.
With Robinson injured before the programme opened, the batting missed his calming influence. When the captain returned he looked in great form and ended easily at the top over the averages.
Broad and Johnson continued to bat in their distinctive styles, and as in 1991, both averaged over 40. Crawley continues to improve and, coming into the side late on, Archer looked a player with a future. Randall had one of those years when things only went right in fits and starts.
Pollard's season was upset by injury, but Evans worked very hard both with bat and ball. With limited opportunities, Mark Saxelby and Greg Mike both hit the ball very hard and to some effect. When French was injured, Bramhall looked a useful substitute.